Triangle students sendmessages to soldier in Iraq
By:Sally Goldenberg
Michaela Mangini, a third-grader, recently wrote a note of gratitude to Marine Platoon Sgt. William Loften, a township resident, for his service in Iraq.
"You probably miss your family a lot. I know I would. And it must be hard to be without your three children. You are a great person and thank you for serving our country!" Michaela wrote in her letter to Sgt. Loften, who has been deployed overseas during the United States war in Iraq.
Triangle School third-graders in Joyce Melitsky’s class presented their letters of appreciation to Somerset County Sheriff Frank. J. Provenzano, who works with Sgt. Loften a county sheriff’s officer. Mr. Provenzano will give Sgt. Loften’s wife the letters for her to mail overseas.
"I think the common theme was they were all concerned how he was doing, how his wife and family and children were getting along without him. I think it was more or less checking on his welfare and telling him that they were very proud of him," Mr. Provenzano said.
Ms. Melitsky said the assignment was based on two tenets of state-mandated character education lessons: caring and good citizenship. Teachers in New Jersey are required to incorporate six pillars of what the state Department of Education deems to be good character into academic lessons.
"The kids care what he’s doing, how he’s doing it, all the kind of questions kids would have," she said.
The letters also are intended to support Sgt. Loften in his days overseas, she said.
"I think the kids gave him a little bit of feeling like he’s at home," she said.
Most letters mixed a tone of gratitude with queries on the where-abouts, actions and well-being of Mr. Loften, who is in his 20s.
Stephanie Petrosino asked about the difficulty of fighting in Iraq and the length of time the Marine has spent overseas.
"My family is very proud of you and other soldiers for fighting for us," Stephanie continued.
She concluded by asking him to write back.
While he may be unable to respond to the questions of an entire third-grade class, Sgt. Loften sent a postcard to his co-workers at the Sheriff’s Department recently.
"I just received a letter today from Bill Loften and it’s written on a military ration flap of a box," Mr. Provenzano said on Tuesday.
The note read: "Temperatures are extremely hot and the sand never stops blowing." Sgt. Loften added that he is safe and looking forward to his return.
When he returns, Ms. Melitsky plans to invite him to her class to meet his pen pals.
Johnny Von Nesser will welcome that meeting.
"Today I have a lacrosse game and when I get a goal it will be for you … I wish I would be able to meet you some day," Johnny wrote to Sgt. Loften.

