Kennedy Students Honored for Efforts in Connecting Troops with Their Families

Life as a soldier or marine is taxing, with deployment forcing them to spend months or even years away from family and friends, but local servicemen and women are getting a boost thanks in part to efforts from students at Kennedy Middle School.

During the past year, students have made wooden yellow ribbons and sold them throughout the community, raising $1,500 to support a laptop program hosted by the American Legion Kiltonic Post 72.

“These efforts have helped us send laptops and cameras overseas so that our military men and women can stay in touch with their families,” said Steve Pintarich, past commander of the American Legion. “Their efforts were selfless and these students took the reigns and did this because they recognize how important it is for these families.”

Members of the American Legion, representatives of the Plantsville-based Charlie Company, 1st battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and representatives of Sen. Richard Blumenthal came together at Kennedy to thank students for their efforts.

Pintarich said the American Legion has been conducting the program for two years now and has sent over 350 computers overseas. They will soon be sending an additional 40 laptops over with members of the Charlie Company, 20 alone thanks in part to recent efforts by the students.