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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Parents and family wait anxiously for the curtains to open and reveal what lies behind. As the crowd turns silent, sleigh bells start ringing and the curtains open. Singing and smiles, with a few waves to mom shows these kids put their all into their act.
As Christmas is fast approaching, students from preschool to 6th grade at Mokapu Elementary School took the stage to sing Christmas carols to celebrate the season on Dec 17.
“K-ELF, YOUR ELF NATION RADIO STATION” was brought together with the help of the school staff and some of Santa’s little Marine helpers.
Deborah Saggers, the music educator for Mokapu Elementary School, was the brain behind the musical. It was her first time doing the winter program for the school.
The goal of the winter program was to teach the kids what they have been learning in a fun environment and to showcase the parents of what they’ve been doing, she said.
The program was started back in August, but the students only had music class a handful of times, Saggers said. They also had different music backgrounds, with most having none. Despite the difficulties, they didn’t stop her commitment for her students.
She couldn’t have done it without some of Santa’s little helpers, Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, she said.
“The Marines were here with great attitudes and were super helpful,” Saggers said. “They helped with setting up chairs, parking and seating. Just yesterday they stayed back and watched the whole show. They enjoyed watching the kids perform and weren’t bored, which was good!”
Marines from 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines volunteer their time to help the school anyway they can. They mow the grass, landscape the school and assist teachers in moving around their classrooms.
Sgt. Kyle A. Alejon, a radio operator with 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines on board base, is one of the Marines in charge of coordinating volunteer efforts.
“I try to switch out Marines just so they can have the opportunity to volunteer and spend time with the kids,” Alejon said. “It shows a different perspective with how we do things as a volunteer. I try to help the kids and the parents, this time of the year with Christmas coming up.”
Most parents being in the military have to be away from home for the holidays, Alejon said.
“Kids are getting lonely and sad,” Alejon said. “Units are coming in and out, with one parent being gone for deployment and sometimes both parents are gone for a deployment. So we’re here to kind of comfort or support them. ”
Sgt. Alejon’s Marines enjoy volunteering at the school and in their community, he said.
Cpl. Austin Douglas, a radio operator with the 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines onboard base, volunteered a lot of his time to help with the school’s winter program.
“Helping the kids and giving back to the community is what it’s really about,” Douglas said. “It’s a change of pace from work.”
Douglas and his fellow Marines like coming out every week to see the kids, he said.
“We hand out popsicles as rewards to the kids, mow the grass, take care of the playground and some days we just help out the teachers with their classrooms,” he said.
Marines helping out in school and the community show the kids what Marines are all about, Douglas said.
“When Marines come to school, you can see the smiles on their faces from looking up to us,” Douglas said.
Whether setting up chairs, arranging seats or just helping with the parking for the Mokapu Elementary School Winter Program, no task is too small or too great. Marines show their commitment to their community whenever they can.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.23.2015 20:12 |
| Story ID: | 185297 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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