As a Kids in Action project this past school year, Carroll Elementary sixth graders folded 300 8x12 in. fabric flags into pocket-size flag triangles for servicemen and women.

The flags were sent to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, where Mark Calhoun of Chicago is stationed. He's formerly of Flora.

Included with each miniature flag was a card with the words, "A flag for your pocket so you can always carry a little piece of home…Thank you for defending our country and our freedom." The card listed the child's first name and last initial, along with the school name, town and state.

Miriam Robeson is the coordinator of Kids in Action, which is sponsored by the KICK Team of the Flora Community Club.

Calhoun said Joint Base Balad serves as the main logistical base and the busiest airport in the Iraqi theater. It houses over 20,000 soldiers, sailors, and Marines and approximately 10,000 contractors. There are several hundred Indiana National Guard soldiers from the 76th BDE stationed there. Calhoun is a captain in the Indiana National Guard.

Letters from Calhoun and from another serviceman at Joint Base Balad are printed below. Both are in response to receiving the pocket flags.

Letters

"I was contacted by Miriam Robeson a couple months ago about receiving and disbursing approximately 300 pocket flags that Carroll Elementary sixth graders had made for our soldiers here in Iraq. I told Miriam that I would be happy to take them and asked her to place a picture of the students who made them in each box. I received two boxes of flags on June 14, the day I started my trip back home for my 14-day leave/pass. I took one for myself, passed out a few to my office colleagues, and then left the remaining flags in the hands of our Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR) director. The MWR director told me that she would leave one box in each MWR building (there are two) and promised me she would post the pictures of the class above them.

When I came back from leave, I went over and talked to the MWR supervisor of one of the buildings. I was expecting there to still be a few left and I wanted to get a picture to send home. The supervisor told me that I am about two weeks too late. She stated that those are hot items and soldiers pick them up like hot cakes. She said they were gone within a day or two of her putting them out. She also said she posted the pictures so that everyone who took a pocket flag, saw who made the flags!

I would like to send a special thank you to the Sixth Grade Class and the organizers of the pocket flag project. I carry mine in my pocket on my left leg in the pocket near my boot. Written on mine is 'Logan J., Carroll Elementary.' I pull it out every once in awhile and think of my days back home and at Carroll."

CPT Mark Calhoun

"Dear Sadi F.,

Hello from the land of sand. My name is Gregory Ruminer. Although I am not a soldier, I am here in Iraq doing mission support. My job title is Combat Transport Driver. When the soldiers need supplies, I deliver. There are many of us here. We drive semi tractor trailers that have armor.

I was at the recreation building this evening and saw the little bags with flags in them. I must say it is very sweet of you and your classmates to send a little piece of home to this land, reminding us why we are here. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

Gregory Ruminer

KBR