Warren Prescott Students Meet Soldiers

The following was submitted by Pat Simpson. It has been edited for language, length and format.

Warren-Prescott School fourth graders welcomed a group of veterans into their classroom last week as part of a campaign to honor the sacrifices of wounded veterans.

The event was part of the "Dear Soldiers" campaign, in which students created letters and cards to accompany the delivery of iPods to wounded veterans at Walter Reed National Medical Center.

Formally established in January of 2011, iPods for Wounded Veterans provides iPods, iPads, eReaders and other materials to improve the quality of life for our wounded veterans recovering from combat injuries. Their intensive rehabilitation process can take months, even years, and these materials provide a diversion, easing the boredom and repetitiveness of the rehabilitation and recovery process.

Paul Cordello and his team personally deliver these gifts to Military and Veterans hospitals and interact with Veterans and their families one-on-one.

Sgt. Paul Cardello, the chairman and founder of the program, told the students that the Veterans were so touched upon reading their cards and letters that many cried.

The Warren-Prescott School is the first Boston school to participate in the "Dear Soldiers" Campaign. Pat Simpson, a registered nurse and peace educator, introduced the program to the school after Joe Zuffante told Simpson about the program. Zuffante, an iPods for Wounded Veterans volunteers, also served during Viet Nam and works as the Teamsters' liason officer.

"It is an important program that we should support," Simpson said. "It is one small way that we can honor our Veterans, especially our wounded Veterans."

Michelle Davis, the principal of the Warren-Prescott School, said she plans to have the school participate int eh program again.

"It was a great opportunity for the students to personally meet our soldiers and listen to their stories firsthand," she said, "and to understand the great personal sacrifices these soldiers have offered our country."