EVERETT – A group of girls gave high fives to Chief Petty Officer Elmer Logan as they walked down a hallway at Whittier Elementary School.
Kevin Nortz / The Herald
Tall and sharply dressed in his Navy uniform, the volunteer might have seemed imposing if not for the name students here better know him by.
“Hi, Mr. Dude!”
Down the hall, first-graders worked on reading skills with Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class Dawn Kemp, who stood out for both her jet-black suit and warm smile.
In another classroom, fifth-grade students wrote down goals for their lives on scratch paper, as other volunteers from Naval Station Everett looked on.
“How do you spell Navy?” asked Josiah Mjelde, 11, looking up from his desk.
Servicemen and women from the base’s Naval Health Clinic volunteer regularly at the school – a partnership that boosts the image of the Navy as well as kids’ confidence and academic skills.
“They might not remember your name, but they’ll remember the uniform,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Kiamzon said.
Depending on their work duties and a schedule bound to world events, anywhere from a handful to 18 volunteers come to the school every other Wednesday. They help with reading, math and physical education or simply are lunch budddies. They’ve also assisted with special projects, such as health checkups and installing a new playground.
At the end of the year, the children also will get a tour of Naval Station Everett.
Last week, a nurse talked to fifth-graders about the dangers of smoking. Coughing is a warning sign of what can develop into more serious illnesses, such as emphysema, said Marie Malpaya, a civilian contractor who promotes health education on the base and in the community.
“Our body is very smart,” she said.
To help drive home the lesson, Malpaya had the students write down seven goals for their lives. The kids wrote down such things as buying a car, playing professional sports, getting a puppy and going to college.
Then, they turned over their pieces of paper where a number was written. They had to cross off the same number of goals on their list, showing how smoking can cut short a person’s life and plans.
Along with the Navy, Josiah listed being in the Army or Marines as one goal. It was one that he didn’t cross out.
“I just want to defend my country and at least help out the people in the war,” he said.
This is the second year Navy volunteers have worked in the school after a hiatus of several years.
Logan, a physical therapy technician better known as “Mr. Dude,” is among the more frequent volunteers.
“It’s a very worthwhile program (and) promotes a positive image of the military, especially in these days when the view of the military is so distorted,” he said.
And helping out with math problems? “I even learned a thing or two,” he said with a laugh.
Older students who worked with the volunteers regularly last year say they appreciate them.
“If we need their help, they’re right there by our side,” said Elizabeth Hicks, 10.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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