TMS teacher recognized for Marine Parents work
Templeton Middle School seventh-grade communication arts teacher Patricia Fry learned recently that she will receive the president's Volunteer Service Award Silver Medal for volunteering 250-499 hours with Marine Parents.
She was somewhat surprised, she said.
"Our founder said something to me about submitting volunteers' names, but I was unaware of the level," she told the Sun in a recent interview.
The silver medal is the third highest award of the four awards - Lifetime, Gold, Silver and Bronze - the presidential panel offers.
In a letter to Fry, the President's Council wrote: "This award recognizes your dedication to volunteer service and signifies that you have served your community and your country with distinction. Through your volunteer efforts, you are demonstrating values that make our nation strong and you are helping to build a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America."
Fry began her volunteer work with Marine Parents when the U.S. Marines Corps deployed her son, Eric, to Iraq in February 2006.
Eric, now 22, joined the Marines the year before as a Menomonee Falls High School senior.
Patricia Fry does most of her volunteer work online, moderating the chat room at www.marinefamilies.com.
She also carries her passion into the classroom, where her students write letters to Marines stationed overseas.
She and her husband, John, then take the students' letters down to Marine Parents headquarters in Columbia, Mo., where they pack the letters into "care" packages for the Marines.
In fact, the couple spent their 29th wedding anniversary in Columbia doing just that.
"We celebrated by packing," she said.
She keeps copies of the letters, and the Marines' responses.
"I have a scrapbook full of them," she said.
Right now, she's looking for some community support for their efforts.
"We need help with postage," she said. "We need about $20,000 by Aug. 15, our next posting date."
advertisement
The Winter Olympics just wrapped up in Vancouver, Canada, and who wasn’t touched by some of the inspirational stories there? Haven’t you dreamed about what it would be like to star in the Olympics yourself?Contest entry based on newspaper coverage area.
Calling all eco-friendly businesses
Deadline extended through March 12.
Lake Country and Mukwonago Publications are looking for local businesses that are doing their part to conserve resources and protect earth. Do you monitor your water use? Do you have a unique recycling program? Do you use renewable-resource building materials? Tell us about it.
Lake Country residents share their views on news, happenings and current events.
LivingLakeCountry.com features more than a dozen community bloggers - a group of volunteer conversation leaders who are up on the latest topics and never short on an opinion. Just a few are pictured here. Check out the rest and see what they have to say!
View All Blogs
Discussion Guidelines
Do you want to become a Community Blogger? LivingLakeCountry.com welcomes your thoughts and opinions. Contact us for more information:
I want to blog
If you're interested in finding out more about sponsoring a blog, click here to send an e-mail to LCP Sales.
MORE: See full gallery
SUBMIT: Post Your Photos now
Do you have news or an event that you would like to share with the community? Whether it's a community organization, a business, a local school, or a notable neighbor, we'd love to hear about it!!
- Photos, Firetrucks and Fun in Delafield...All For A Great Cause.
- Break with Tradition this St. Patrick's Day Holiday With a Savory Corned Beef Soup
- 39th Annual Oconomowoc Rose Sale
- Italian Dinner: Saturday March 27th
- Hamilton Charger cheerleaders take 5th at national competition
- Accompany of Kids, Gala 2010 "Electricity!!"
- Painting a portrait of St. Patrick?
- Eagle Area Community Showcase and Breakfast
- Things That Go 'Vrooom' -- March 20
- Maple Avenue fifth-graders donate to Haiti relief
MORE: See the rest of Your Stories
SUBMIT: Post Your Story now
We asked - you answered - with 70 nominations for Lake Country's top healthcare professionals. See winners and their stories.
