KALAHEO — The students in the Kalaheo School A-Plus program have been working for several weeks, and on the week of Veteran’s Day, saw the fruits of their labor bear fruit.
Monday, special guests from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, paid the school a visit, where they received a contribution of $114 that the students had collected by selling caramel apples at both the Kalaheo School Sweetest Day celebration that was part of the centennial celebration, and for several days after school was let out.
Rubyann Octavio, a student in the program, was no stranger to soldiers, as her dad, Master Sgt. Luke Octavio, is currently training in Texas for eventual deployment to Iraq as part of the 299th contingent.
She chatted with Sgt. Prudencio Labutong, who appeared at the school along with Sgt. Pat Quel and Cpl. Neil Apuna Jr., who was recently discharged from the U.S. Army, and Clem Quel, the head of the Kaua‘i family support unit.
As the students trooped into the cafeteria to meet their guests, hushed overtures could be heard from the students: “Look, it’s a real soldier.” “Are they for real?” “Are they searching for guns?”
Louise Santos, one of the school’s A-Plus instructors, had the honor of introducing the students to the guests, Santos having twin sons involved in Iraq.
Her son Thomas is currently serving in Iraq as a mechanic, and is nearing the end of his tour there. Santos said that he’s confided that when he’s finished with the service, he wants to complete school as an auto mechanic, and is looking forward to returning to the U.S. Mainland.
Thomas will be followed by twin brother Albert, who is currently training with the 299th in Texas for deployment to Iraq early in 2005, just about the time brother Thomas returns home.
Octavio, while waiting for their guests to settle in, showed off a Military Honor List she is spearheading, her dad’s name the first one penned in.
Barbara Bloemke, one of the A-Plus spearheads for the project, explained that the students want to honor all the soldiers they know of who have served, or are serving in Iraq. The list is similar to the Cancer Walk list they penned two years ago when the A-Plus students contributed to the American Cancer Society because one of their teachers was stricken with cancer.
Joining Octavio was classmate Noelle Kamakea, whose uncle is in Texas for training before eventual deployment to Iraq in February.
Clem Quel was familiar with all of those students, recognizing them by name and face. Sgt. Labutong, while waiting for the rest of the guardsmen to arrive, chatted with Octavio, their familiarity bringing them to discussions about ranks in the military.
Students were curious about a lot of things when they finally got to meet the guardsmen, one student asking about why flags are used to mark graves of soldiers during the Veteran’s Day service, and another querying about why “the flag is still there” in the national anthem.
“This is super,” Sgt. Quel said of the gestures shown by the elementary-school students. Sgt. Labutong added that the soldiers need to see this kind of support they have, and was curious to see when this story would be appearing so he could forward copies on to the troops.
Sgt. Quel smartly answered each of the students’ questions, but was at a loss for words when a tiny girl sitting in the front asked him for his phone number. This was followed up when the little girl jumped up and gave Quel a big hug following his presentation, and following that with hugs for Labutong, Apuna, and Clem Quel.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
