Students at McAuley High School named the operation after the camp in Afghanistan where troops will be receiving their gifts. What are those gifts? Care packages containing everything from food to hygiene products. For the next month students will be collecting donations for marines at camp leatherneck in Afghanistan. Those packages will mean a merry Christmas for troops so very far from home.
Operation Leatherneck kicked off Tuesday morning at McAuley High School in Portland with a post Veterans Day ceremony honoring those who've served our country. Members from VFW's north Deering post filled the auditorium with the sound of taps, and demonstrated the somber ritual of folding the American flag for a fallen soldier’s family. Students also unveiled their wall of honor, dedicated to those who've served.
Corporal Robert Richardson is a marine and the son of a faculty member at the school, he will deploy to Afghanistan after the holidays. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the students for their efforts, and the students say the feeling is mutual.
The ceremony ended as students raised their voices with a chorus of God Bless America. And officially began the season of hope and giving.
Just before Christmas break starts, students will pack up all the donations for Operation Leatherneck. Corporal Richardson will personally take them to Afghanistan when he deploys after the holidays.
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