Posted June 13, 2012

Last month, students from the Shaker High School World of Difference Club collected various items to put in care packages to send to soldiers with North Colonie ties serving overseas.

Recently, three of the soldiers, Bryan Schermerhorn, a Shaker graduate, Greg Buck, son of SHS math teacher Mary Buck, and Stephanie Schneider, daughter of a SHS custodian, received their care packages in the mail. Stephanie took some time to write to the students to thank them for their generous showing of support and care, and to give them a feeling of what she does on a daily basis serving our country in Kuwait.

Dear Mr. Weaver and class,

Thank you so much for the package! I received it Sunday, June 3rd!

The bandana you sent came just in time. It was a dust storm for about 3 days straight. The sky was just constantly brown with the wind blowing. If you don't cover your face you'll have sand in your ears, mouth, and nose. Everything was great! Pictures are soon to follow.

I've been in Kuwait now since the beginning of April, and we should be back in the USA in January! I'm in the New York Army National Guard. I enlisted the beginning of my senior year of high school because I always wanted to serve in the military since 9/11. I volunteered for this deployment and I'm very happy I did. I found out I was deploying in May 2011, right when I graduated from HVCC for Human Services.

We are located at Camp Patriot/Kuwaiti Naval Base in Kuwait. We share the post with the Kuwaiti military. I'm part of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion. We currently run the post. It's like a tiny little town. We have people here who do medical stuff if we are sick, we have the military police who guard the post, we have a section who is in charge of: water, waste/sanitation, supplies, electricity, carpentry, vehicles, and then other normal operations like computers, paperwork, and logistics. I am in the computer/communication section. I basically am in charge of helping out with computer or radio issues anybody may have on the post. It's a pretty good job because it's hands on and I like working with computers.

The Middle East is very different from the states. The weather for one is a huge thing! It's 100 degrees before 10 AM here! It's only the beginning of June too. Also, can you imagine paying 25 cents a gallon for gas? Kuwait is a very oil rich country, so it's nothing out of the ordinary to pass a Ferrari or a Bentley when you're driving somewhere.

There are also herds of camels off in the distance. It's very westernized though. They have Burger King, Subway, malls with the same clothing stores we have, McDonald's, Carl's Jr, and car dealerships everywhere. They also have regular radio stations like FLY 92.3! I never would have known what it was like until I got here.

Again, thank you so much for the package. I read the article in the Times Union and I was so excited. It's a great feeling to be recognized. I absolutely love serving for my country, it's very rewarding. I've had a lot of great time since I've been in for the past 4 years! I can't wait to come home though. I wish you all the best on what you decide to do after high school. Good luck on any finals and regents! I hope you all have a great summer!

Thank you so much Mr. Weaver and class!!

Cash donations for postage for future care packages are welcome. Please forward them to Mr. Dan Weaver at Shaker High School.