Miami Herald, The (FL) - October 11, 2007
Author: BEGOÑE CAZALIS, bcazalis@MiamiHerald.com
When U.S. Marine Sgt. Jay Tansy returned home from Iraq for a two-week break, it was to get married -- and something else that he never thought of.
Tansy will be going back to his unit with more than 30 boxes filled with all the things he and the other Marines missed from home, courtesy of students of Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens.
The students invited Tansy to visit them Oct. 1, when they gave him the supplies.
"I was extremely overwhelmed and surprised," he said.
Students in an honors International Relations class came up with the idea when they were planning an activity for Freedom Week, which took place Sept. 24-28.
Twin sisters Daniela and Dailys Sanjurjo thought it would be a good idea to send supplies for the troops. They asked Tansy, who was coming home to marry their elder sister, Dayana, what things the Marines missed most.
"We e-mailed him asking what his unit needed," said Daniela, a senior. "And, it was funny because they wanted things like Doritos, Twinkies, lip balm and [decks of cards]."
The students began collecting items to send to the troops, but soon other clubs at the school, such as Helping Hands, Diamond Girls and the PTA, decided to help. Students and parents also dropped off donations.
Judith Marty , principal of Mater Academy Charter High, 7901 NW 103rd St., said the students put a lot of effort into collecting the items. The experience gave them a sense of responsibility to others, "better than collecting for their trip to Orlando," Marty said.
"What was surprising to me was that they got the whole school to participate," Marty said. "It was definitely a worthwhile effort."
The students prepared 11 personalized boxes, each with the name of a member of Tansy's unit, as well as 20 other boxes containing items such as wipes, cookies, magazines, tooth brushes, potato chips, body wash and razors.
"This experience allowed us to say . . . thanks for not having what we take for granted and doing it for us," said Dailys, who wants to study international law.
Idelsy Llanes, who teaches the International Relations class, said the students not only got a sense of community from the event, but they also learned about the Middle East and about life during a time of war when Tansy talked about his experiences in the school auditorium after receiving the donation.
"It gave my students a personal connection to Iraq. We were all able to understand better what it is like day-to-day over there," Llanes said.
Tansy, 27, who was among the first soldiers sent to Afghanistan after the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, talked about his life in the military and his team duties in Iraq, which include meeting with Iraqi leaders to promote rebuilding the country.
He also answered questions from the students.
"They were very interested in knowing what the Iraqis were like. I told them they were nice, humble people and that all they wanted to do was drink tea," Tansy said. "I also said we wanted to break down barriers between them and us and rebuild that country."
Tansy was due to return to Iraq for another six months after marrying his fiancée on Oct. 4.
"We have been dating for eight years and I love her. And, being there changes your perspective to get serious about what you want in life," Tansy said.
Daniela said Tansy's address to the students changed their perspective about the troops overseas.
"I think students found out soldiers are working hard to unite Iraqis," said Daniela, who wants to study medicine or diplomacy. "And, through the fundraiser, they learned that everyone should give a little because we have so much and others have nothing."
The students have spent the past few days arranging for shipping the boxes to Iraq.
"We are kind of in the middle of nowhere there and although we have all the essentials, what they are sending us is the kind of things you would never find there," Tansy said. "For example, I don't remember the last time I used Q-tips -- you know, over there Q-tips are gold." "I am excited because my team is going to be surprised. I will go back a lot more motivated because of this act."
Tansy will be going back to his unit with more than 30 boxes filled with all the things he and the other Marines missed from home, courtesy of students of Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens.
The students invited Tansy to visit them Oct. 1, when they gave him the supplies.
"I was extremely overwhelmed and surprised," he said.
Students in an honors International Relations class came up with the idea when they were planning an activity for Freedom Week, which took place Sept. 24-28.
Twin sisters Daniela and Dailys Sanjurjo thought it would be a good idea to send supplies for the troops. They asked Tansy, who was coming home to marry their elder sister, Dayana, what things the Marines missed most.
"We e-mailed him asking what his unit needed," said Daniela, a senior. "And, it was funny because they wanted things like Doritos, Twinkies, lip balm and [decks of cards]."
The students began collecting items to send to the troops, but soon other clubs at the school, such as Helping Hands, Diamond Girls and the PTA, decided to help. Students and parents also dropped off donations.
Judith Marty , principal of Mater Academy Charter High, 7901 NW 103rd St., said the students put a lot of effort into collecting the items. The experience gave them a sense of responsibility to others, "better than collecting for their trip to Orlando," Marty said.
"What was surprising to me was that they got the whole school to participate," Marty said. "It was definitely a worthwhile effort."
The students prepared 11 personalized boxes, each with the name of a member of Tansy's unit, as well as 20 other boxes containing items such as wipes, cookies, magazines, tooth brushes, potato chips, body wash and razors.
"This experience allowed us to say . . . thanks for not having what we take for granted and doing it for us," said Dailys, who wants to study international law.
Idelsy Llanes, who teaches the International Relations class, said the students not only got a sense of community from the event, but they also learned about the Middle East and about life during a time of war when Tansy talked about his experiences in the school auditorium after receiving the donation.
"It gave my students a personal connection to Iraq. We were all able to understand better what it is like day-to-day over there," Llanes said.
Tansy, 27, who was among the first soldiers sent to Afghanistan after the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, talked about his life in the military and his team duties in Iraq, which include meeting with Iraqi leaders to promote rebuilding the country.
He also answered questions from the students.
"They were very interested in knowing what the Iraqis were like. I told them they were nice, humble people and that all they wanted to do was drink tea," Tansy said. "I also said we wanted to break down barriers between them and us and rebuild that country."
Tansy was due to return to Iraq for another six months after marrying his fiancée on Oct. 4.
"We have been dating for eight years and I love her. And, being there changes your perspective to get serious about what you want in life," Tansy said.
Daniela said Tansy's address to the students changed their perspective about the troops overseas.
"I think students found out soldiers are working hard to unite Iraqis," said Daniela, who wants to study medicine or diplomacy. "And, through the fundraiser, they learned that everyone should give a little because we have so much and others have nothing."
The students have spent the past few days arranging for shipping the boxes to Iraq.
"We are kind of in the middle of nowhere there and although we have all the essentials, what they are sending us is the kind of things you would never find there," Tansy said. "For example, I don't remember the last time I used Q-tips -- you know, over there Q-tips are gold." "I am excited because my team is going to be surprised. I will go back a lot more motivated because of this act."