NORTH JACKSON – April is known as the “Month of the Military Child,” and Jackson-Milton Schools is using this as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of 14 students with family in the military.
This caused two fourth-grade students and their brothers to connect through a unique coincidence.
Students Zach Black and Shawn Miller found out they both have older brothers who are both stationed in Okinawa, Japan, serving in different military branches.
Zach’s brother Mike Black is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. and Shawn’s brother, Don Yates, is serving in the Air Force.
With the help of ELA teacher Daniel Blake, Zach and Shawn wrote letters to their brothers with the hope that their brothers could meet face-to-face someday.
Zach’s letter to his brother Mike
“Shawn and I thought it was amazing that you both are serving so close to each other. We hoped sharing this information might help you meet while you are overseas.”
Zach Black
The boys’ wishes came true when they were shown a video at the school’s monthly Purple Star Luncheon in March of their brothers meeting face-to-face in Okinawa back in February.
In the video, Black, who is recovering from a broken leg, took a moment to thank the students for handmade get-well cards they had made months prior.
Title I teacher Robert Zanni said the students were “absolutely thrilled” to see their brothers finally meet.
“Seeing that connection come to life shows our students that even though their loved ones are far away, they are never out of reach,” Zanni said.
The boys responded with a video of their own, thanking their brothers for their service and for taking the time to connect with them from Japan.
You can take a look at the letters both Zach and Shawn wrote to their brothers in the PDFs below.
Download the WFMJ app for your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet to get our push alerts as news happens.
AloJapan.com