Politics & Government

Swift School Students Welcome Home Soldiers at Atlanta Airport

Students recently met real-life heroes, welcoming them home to the U.S. from foreign deployments.

The “land of the free and home of the brave” has a new meaning for the Middle Division students and faculty, who recently traveled to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to welcome home service men and women.

The soldiers, who traveled more than 7,000 miles to get back to the life people sometimes take for granted, couldn’t have been happier to see the signs and flags waved by Swift students.

Many of the soldiers paused to speak with the students and thank them for what they were doing. Robert, a seventh grader who hopes to be a pilot in the military, was ecstatic to speak with a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot.

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“I find military planes interesting,” said Robert about why he wants to be a military pilot. “My grandparents were in the Air Force and the Army. I’ve known for the past two years this is what I want to do when I grow up.”

Chaplain Captain George Tyger of Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar, Afghanistan Roshan, was one of the men the students had the pleasure of meeting. Days after the field trip, Head of School Rich Wendlek received an e-mail from Tyger.

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“I was returning home for R and R (rest and recuperation) leave last week. I was greeted by a great group of your students at the Atlanta Airport. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your school for caring enough to turn out and greet the returning troops,” Tyger wrote. “You may not ever fully know how meaningful it was for me to have so many young people express their gratitude and concern.”

This trip not only meant a lot to the service men and women the students spoke with, but also to Swift students as well. Many of Swift families have sons, daughters, brothers and sisters serving overseas in the United States Armed Forces. Earlier in the year, seventh grader Hannah and her classmates received a surprise visit at school. Her brother, Corporal Bryant Lewey, USMC, who had been deployed in Afghanistan came to Swift upon his home arrival. She and the students were elated to see him. Knowing that many of our families have ties to the Navy, Marines and Air Force made the purpose of this trip clear for the students.

During the Middle Division Retreat in last fall, the students voted on several service projects to implement during the 2011-2012 academic year. They decided that they wanted to be involved with aiding the troops. Throughout the year students have written letters and sent pounds of candy overseas. In preparation for this trip, Jill McGuire, student council adviser contacted the United Service Organization (USO) to coordinate plans. The USO’s mission is to provide services that directly benefit the outstanding members of the U.S. military who serve with dedication, skill and pride, defending the freedoms we cherish and often take for granted. Swift students were elated to be a part of the USO’s efforts.

For further information about Swift School, call 678-205-4988 or visit Swift School online.


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