Child Inspires Our Troops
This past week in New York A soldier by the name of Staff Sgt. Phillip Trackey attended a ceremony at a Middle School for a 7th grade student being honored for wining an essay contest, writing letters to American troops.
Sgt. Trackey went because he wanted to show his support and gratitude to the young girl because the letters meant so much to the troops while they were serving in Iraq.
This story is very special you see the Staff Sergeant in 2005 received the Purple Heart, a metal he received in 2005, from injuries sustained in Iraq. He wanted to give something back to this bright young girl who won the Veteran's of Foreign Affairs Letters to the Front Contest.
After Fatima Faisal received her prizes, Staff Sgt.Trackey stood and held up his Purple Heart for everyone to see. Then, he pinned it on the girl's blouse.
Fatima said she didn't know what to say or do.
"I'm touched. I'm speechless," Fatima said. "This is the sweetest thing ever."
Faisal's letter was chosen the best out of more than 300 letters written in the age 12-18 category in the Central New York region. The national contest was to write letters to servicemen and servicewomen starting with the line, "Dear Service Member, I just wanted to say thanks for ..."
Teacher Donna Mahar said she has her seventh-grade classes participate in the yearly contest. About 60 of her pupils wrote letters, she said.
In her letter, Faisal said, "...I give you great respect because you had a choice to join the military and because of your bravery and courage you decided to join."
For winning the contest, Faisal received a T-shirt, a certificate and a $50 savings bond.
But the Purple Heart was the top prize, Faisal said, adding she hoped to mount it in a frame to hang in her room.
The (AP) news wire reports-- "When he gave it to her, I was getting chills," said Nadia Faisal, Fatima's mother. "I told her 'Oh my gosh, Fatima. You should treasure it forever.'"
Trackey, of Glens Falls, said he received the medal for the shoulder and head wounds he suffered when a bomb went off near him in Baghdad in January 2005. Trackey said his Purple Heart was just collecting dust at home.
It's Memorial Weekend. Swimming pools officially open, you can pull out those white shoes from your closet from last year and be in fashion. It's also a time honored tradition for millions of veterans, families and American's to display the American Flag as we honor and remember our fallen war hero's.
May God Bless Our Troops and keep them Safe!
