Pleasant Grove students put together care packages for military families

PLEASANT GROVE — Students at Grovecrest Elementary in Pleasant Grove are finding a way to support children whose family members serve in the military.

The school's Purple Star Club put together care packages filled with handwritten cards, stickers and school items for children who have a family member currently deployed or preparing to deploy.

The club was created to help military-connected students feel supported and recognized at school.

For sixth grader Spencer, the project is personal. After his brother was deployed, he understands how difficult it can be.

"We just know that we're not the only ones out there who are having family members away in the military," he said. "My brother was deployed about two years ago, and it took me a while to get over that, so we made these care packages to help other kids who also have military families deployed right now."

The students also received a visit from members of the Utah National Guard, who came to thank them for their efforts and talk with them about military service and Veterans Day.

Master Sgt. Greg Annis said the gesture means a lot, especially coming from children who understand the impact deployment can have on a family.

"It's special because this is something that is a personal way of saying thank you from probably the most affected members of a family when a loved one has to deploy," Annis said. "So having been deployed, being a spouse of a service member and having children wonder where me or their mother is at, it's just really special that they are thinking about this and they want to help others."