The best part about leaving is coming home.
At least according to National Guard Staff Sgt. Stephanie Spanton, 31, of Ballston Spa, who recently returned from a 12 month deployment in Iraq and Kuwait. Sgt. Spanton, along with 2nd Lt. Andrew Shaw, 27, of Troy, explained her time overseas to a group of Capital Communications Federal Credit Union employees’ children, as a special program incorporated into this year’s annual Take Your Child to Work Day on Wednesday, April 16, at the credit union’s main office in Albany.
The idea to bring the Troops to the annual bring-your-child to work event was the brainchild of several Capital Communications employees, including Foundation Administrator Vice Chairperson Bob Bascom.
But not only did the Credit Union want the children to prepare packages for the troops they wanted the children to hear what life is like as a soldier overseas. Sgt. Spanton and Lt. Shaw showed the children a PowerPoint presentation, explaining their experiences and what it means to serve the country.
All of us raised our right hands and decided to go over there and fight together,` said Sgt. Spanton, `Do you know why? Because we’re all Americans.`
After the presentation, the children, ranging in age from 5 to 12, chose partners and filled cardboard boxes with items they picked out of a pile in the corner of the room.
Bascom said that while Capital Communications, a union with over 66,000 members, is involved with two drives throughout each year where items are collected to make packages for troops who are overseas. However, this year, the credit union decided to put the children and grandchildren of their own employees to work for a good cause in creating packages filled with food, games and toys for soldiers craving little pieces of home to hold on to.
`We just want to reach out to troops overseas,` said Bascom, `The parents love [their children participating], and we think the packages might make their lives a little better. To them, getting the package is like getting a present.`
Sgt. Spanton said little things, like a Frisbee, will bring at least a few moments of happiness to the troops, which is something many troops are grateful for. `It really is the fun stuff ` bubbles, Frisbees, movies `t hat make the packages great. I would tell friends and family who sent packages to send the fun stuff,` she said.
According to Lt. Shaw, who spent 13 months in Iraq, the packages are some of the greatest gifts he’s ever received.
`When I was getting packages, I thought it was great to see people that support us.` Lt. Shaw also said that for troops in all military services, the feeling of being in conflict is, `almost universally indescribable` and that the support of people back at home really helps them hold on.
Over 16 packages were put together at the event, filled to the brim with Twizzlers, yo-yo’s, magazines and several other items that many take for granted.
Shaw said his favorite item ever received in a package was beef jerky. `I was a trucker before I went [overseas]. I always liked to have that packet of beef jerky to chew on while I was driving,` he said.
Employees’ children were able to pick out items they thought the troops would like best while making their own personalized packages.
`There’s gum in our packageand we have tissues,` said 5-year-old Lindsey Connor, of East Greenbush, who put together a package with her big sister, Julia. `It was a lot of fun packaging the food and stuff,` said Julia.
Julia, 9, and Lindsey put mints, gum, playing cards and candy in their package, they said.
Evan Brozowski, 7, of Colonie, said, `It was really cool today. We got to see our parents and we got to give [the troops] presents and they gave us lights,` referring to small flashlights the troops passed out to the children as gifts.
Brozowski’s package contained two packets of beef jerky, mints and gum, he said.
Julie Hughes, manager of operations and support at Capital Communications, and a parent whose son, Robert, participated in the day’s event, said, `I just think it’s important for the kids at a young age to be exposed to what life is really about.`
Speaking on behalf of Robert, 5, Hughes said her son’s package contained toys, games and food.
Twenty-eight children participated in making the packages, and Bascom said he is confident that putting together the packages for the troops could easily become a regular part of Take Your Child to Work Day.
“