Nathan Hale Middle School is proud to be one of the oldest Iraq War charities in the state of Connecticut.

Adopt-a-Platoon was begun in 2003 to commemorate fallen hero and former Nathan Hale student Wilfredo Perez Jr.,
who was killed in action in Baquba, Iraq on July 26, 2003.



Now celebrating our fifth school year of service,
Adopt-a-Platoon has become a way of life for many of our students.
Since 2003, we have shipped over 1000 boxes, chock full of goodies which
have been donated by the students, families, staff and community members.

Boxes are shipped every month to our troops in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Our current "adoptees" in Afghanistan are:

SSGT Ryan Catterlin - Nephew of Mrs. Rondi Olson, NHMS Social Worker

Spc Stephen Butler - Older Brother of Bobby Butler (Grade 6) and Sean Butler (Grade 8)
Stephen is also an alumni of Nathan Hale

New "adoptees" in Iraq are:

SSGT Kevin Cooper
Brian Loeffel
Blake Collett
Eric Miller

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE CAUSE THIS YEAR.
Thank you also to Mr. or Ms. "Anonymous" posting about NHMS on the YourCT.com blog
and for giving us recognition on the site.
We are a non-partisan, non-political, and working to teach kids
the importance of giving back.

Cooking Baking for the troops is targeted for the weekend of December 6th & 7th.
Bring in items on Monday 12/8/08
for shipping overseas.
For more info - contact Kathy Gamcsik 899-2910 x17201.



If you would like to donate items to the cause, here is what they need:
Junk food that does not melt, crush, go stale or fall apart!
Pingles in cans (no bagged chips please!), Candy that does not melt, like Twizzlers - no chocolate.
Gum in chicklet form, peanuts, granola, trail mix.
Tuna in foil bags, anything in a pop-top can,
Crystal Light or any drink mix in small individual packets - no large cans please.
Anything in a plastic jar, like peanut butter and jelly.

Puzzle books, writing paper pads and envelopes,
pens and pencils, small travel-size games,
Small school supplies for the local Afghani and Iraqi kids,
Fly swatters, deodorant, eye drops - worth their weight in gold in such as sandy place!
Sweat bands, washcloths, antibacterial cleanser - when water is scarce.
Band-aids, travel sizes of Tylenol and other over-the-counter drugs.

Used DVDs and video games for Playstation2 and X-Box.
(The camp compounds may have DVD players and video game consoles).

Have some favorite music you have downloaded? Burn a CD for them and inscribe it with your best wishes.

Of course, cash donations are always accepted to help us pay the cost of shipping the boxes overseas.

Please feel free to write to our current "adoptees" listed above. We will forward you letter to them.

We Salute Our Heroes!
These are the Men & Women of the Armed Forces that are Near and Dear to Our Hearts!

Pictures of our past Adoptees!

IRAQ
 

CPL Brian Gesner
stationed in Iraq.		  

PFC Greg Stewart
Stationed in Iraq.
   
 

LT Richard Seymour
U.S. Army, 1-9 Cavalry
Baghdad, Iraq		  

PFC Scott Artal
U.S. Army, 1-9 Cavalry
Baghdad, Iraq
 

SFC Michael Belton
U.S. Marines, Task Force Olympian
Iraq		  

SPC Juan Carlos de la Garza (and his Iraqi crew)
U.S. Army, 1-9 Cavalry
Baghdad, Iraq


S SGT Randolph Grandberry
U.S. Army, 1-9 Cavalry		  

S SGT Robert Kane
U.S. Marines, Bridge Bravo Company
Tikrit, Iraq
 

CPT Kara Lecker
U.S. Marines, Bridge Bravo Company
Tikrit, Iraq		  

SPC Alexander Menchaca
U.S. Army, 1-9 Cavalry
Baghdad, Iraq
   

Mr. Fred Roos and Grandsons
Grandfather of Wilfredo Perez.
Mr. Roos' second grandson is heading to Iraq.
 AFGHANISTAN & PERSIAN GULF
 

LT COL Steve Tableman
U.S. Army, Civil Affairs Battalion
U.s.-U.K. Coalition Forces
Afghanistan		  

SPC Kevin Santolini
Nathan Hale Class of 2001
Afghanistan
 

PHAN Philip Morrill - Mrs. Richello's nephew!
U.S. ANavy, U.S.S. Harry Truman
Persian Gulf