BILL WEST / Star Beacon
ARMY 1ST. Lt. Jennifer Dyrcz presents an American flag to the students at Rock Creek Elementary School students Wednesday in Rock Creek. The flag was flown over an Army base in Mosul, Iraq.
Published May 27, 2009 08:21 pm - Third-grade teacher Brenda Headley of Rock Creek Elementary School fought back the tears as U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jennifer Dyrcz entered the building Wednesday afternoon
Army officer presents flag flown in Mosul to pen pals
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
ROCK CREEK — Third-grade teacher Brenda Headley of Rock Creek Elementary School fought back the tears as U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jennifer Dyrcz entered the building Wednesday afternoon.
“We have been writing to her all year. She is one of my former students, and I think of her as a daughter,” Headley said.
Dyrcz, who is an Army officer home on leave until June 7 from Mosul, Iraq, visited Headley’s classroom to educate the students about her battalion and to present an American flag to the school. The flag flew over Dyrcz’s base in Iraq for 24 hours.
“I went to Rock Creek Elementary just like you, and Mrs. Headley was my fourth-grade teacher,” Dyrcz told the students.
“I am an officer in the Army. It is a challenging job, but it is something that anyone can do.”
The third-graders have been corresponding during the school year with Dyrcz and other members of her battalion.
“We sent her unit a box at Christmas, and she sent our students a prayer rug from Iraq,” Headley said. “It hangs outside our door.”
“My job is in the Signal Corps. We make sure everyone on the battlefield can talk to each other. We use radio and computers,” Dyrcz said.
During a slide presentation on Dyrcz’s unit and life in Iraq, the students had many interesting questions.
“Is the Marines harder than the Army?” one student asked.
“Well, I love the Army, and the Marines don’t want TV and other things you are used to. So if you really want to go camping, join the Marines,” Dyrcz answered with a smile.
Another student asked about safety, and Dyrcz said: “Our soldiers are able to do things that keep us safe. And in my battalion, we have not had one casualty.”
The students also wanted to know about weapons, food and the weather in Iraq.
“It is very hot in Iraq. Sometimes it is 120 degrees,” she said.
“I enjoy my job, and I enjoy helping to take care of my soldiers. We are a little family.”
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