Local Youngsters provide patriotic 'pick-me-up' for troops

Photo by Lauri Zachry Leader Staff

Left to right, Amanda Van Vrenken, Sascha Enders, and Alyssa Leeper work on a bulletin board of artwork at the Children's Courtyard Friday afternoon. The artwork will be sent to soldiers serving overseas after being displayed at the Texas Capitol today.

By Lauri Zachry
Leader Staff

     People visiting the state Capitol today can view Flag Day drawings students at the Children's Courtyard on Gattis School Road in Round Rock created as a "pick-me-up" for U.S. soldiers serving overseas.
     These students submitted about 100 pictures for U.S. soldiers currently in Iraq and surrounding areas through a project sponsored by the Art for Soldiers Foundation. About 400 students from all of the Austin area Children's Courtyard campuses, along with one campus in the Houston area and three in the Arlington area participated in this event.
     Kathy DeLeon, director of the Children's Courtyard on Gattis School Road, said their school had the most students participating from the Austin area.
     "We have a lot of excellent artists here and we're proud of all of them, " DeLeon said.
     Alyssa Leeper, a fifth-grade student at Blackland Prairie Elementary and a participant in the school-age program at Children's Courtyard, drew a picture of the Earth covered in rainbow-colored camouflage leaving room for a smilee face in the center of the Earth and titled her work, "You Keep America's Heart Beating." Leeper also drew a picture of a camouflaged bear to show her support of the troops in Iraq.
"I thought a bear would be a good idea for a picture to draw. The bear acts as a pick-me-up for the soldiers," Leeper said.
     One of Leeper's family members was recently shot while serving a tour of duty in Iraq. Even though he was injured, Leeper's relative is still serving in Iraq.
     Sascha Enders, fourth-grade student at Forest Creek Elementary and Children's Courtyard school-aged participant, drew a picture of the Texas flag for the troops overseas.
     "I wanted to remind the Texas soldiers of where they came from so they wouldn't be homesick," Enders said.
     Along with student artwork samples, the collection displayed at the Capitol today will include an original poem, "Never Forget" written by Jen Barney, assistant director of the preschool program at the Children's Courtyard on Gattis School Road.
     "The students love to give here. We just want people to know we still support the troops overseas," Barney said.
     Heather McMahan, chief executive officer of the Art for Soldiers Foundation, created the foundation and a "Welcome Home" sculpture displayed in the Austin Bergstrom International Airport after seeing the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks while living in New York and wanting to honor those soldiers who are currently protecting the United States in other countries.
     "It affects you deeply when you're attacked. I thought the soldiers coming home from Iraq were not getting acknowledged enough for all they do," McMahan said.
     McMahan moved to Austin shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.
     McMahan said she had received letters from soldiers ho were inspired by her sculpture. Those letters led to the creation of the Art for Soldiers Flag Day event.
     "The soIdlers said they knew their sense of purpose in the world when they looked at the piece. I wanted to continue to exude those soldiers' feelings, but 1 wanted to bring the artwork to t lie soldiers instead. Flag Day is a time when we commemorate the men and women who help fight for our freedom to fly the flag," McMahan said.

Contact Laura Zachry at 255-5827 or by email at education@rrleader.com.