National Guard Soldier Gives Thanks to Tiogue Students

In a rewarding conclusion to their school year, third and fourth grade students at Tiogue Elementary School were visited last Thursday by Dale Asselin, a member of the Army National Guard 169th Military Police Company, who stopped by to thank them for their support during the year.

In late January, five National Guard troops from the 169th Company made a stop at the school to pick up care packages created by students for members of the unit stationed in Afghanistan at the time, including Dale.

Within the care packages were hand-written letters from third grade students and portable drink mixes like cider and hot chocolate. Various K-cup and bagged Dunkin Donuts coffees were also included to give the troops a little taste of home while they served overseas.

Fourth grade students organized packages for the troops that included energy/breakfast bars, flavored water packs, beef jerky, trail mix, nuts, gum and Twizzlers, along with staples like ChapStick, Icy Hot patches, pocket-size Kleenex packages and hand/foot warmers. 

Candice Asselin, Dale's wife and mother of their two Tiogue students coordinated the efforts between the school and Army National Guard.

During Dale's visit, just five days after he returned home from Afghanistan, he presented the school with a flag case containing a flag that flew in Afghanistan along with a plaque from the National Guard. He spoke to the students, answered many of their questions about his time overseas, and shared with them how much his fellow troops loved and appreciated the care packages and letters.