By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/28/02)
Disadvantaged children in the Kosovo town of Podgrade have more than enough school supplies this year thanks to the generosity of students at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton.
The school became aware of the need through U.S. Army Lieutenant Michael Leonard, who is stationed with Alpha Company in Schweinfurt, Germany. Leonard’s company was deployed in Kosovo for six months. His job as an information officer required him to work among the town leadership in southeastern Kosovo.
"One particular town in my sector stood out from all of the rest," Leonard wrote in a recent letter to St. Andrew students. Podgrade is located a few kilometers from the administrative boundary line that separates Kosovo from Serbia.
Leonard said Podgrade has all the characteristics of a poor Balkan town: dirt streets filled with potholes, lines of houses made from stones and brick, an elementary school and mosque at the center of town.
"A major earthquake ravaged the entire area back in April of this year, damaging houses and the school," he said.
Leonard, a Catholic school graduate from Maryland, made the connection with St. Andrew School through Joayn P. Bahr, a family friend and former secretary at St. Andrew School. Bahr’s husband recently retired from the Army after a 30-year career.
Phyllis Hammang, St. Andrew’s principal, immediately agreed to Bahr’s request that the school assist Leonard in his desire to supply the Kosovo school.
"In a community that places such high value on education, there must be an appreciation for the fact that education is a major factor in creating a free society," Hammang wrote in the St. Andrew’s newsletter. "Why not make a small donation to this worthy cause to make a difference for the children of Kosovo?"
The school community responded quickly to Hammang’s plea and sent Leonard nine boxes of crayons, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, scissors, folders and index cards.
Leonard said the most rewarding experience was seeing the faces of the Kosovo children when they saw him walking up to the school with boxes of supplies.
"It is amazing how a small item such a new notebook can make a world of difference to the kids over here," he said. "It goes to show just how much we take for granted back home.
"Your support made our peace-keeping mission here in Kosovo easier and gave us, together as Americans, a chance to give back to a community torn by ethnic rivalries and civil war."
The school hosted a Nov. 22 pep rally to end "Spirit Week." Prior to the pep rally, Bahr presented Hammang and Fr. Jerome Fasano, St. Andrew’s pastor, with a plaque on behalf of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry "Blue Spaders" 1st Infantry Division.
"The citizens of Podgrade and the faculty and children of the school also thank you because it is the contributions like St. Andrew the Apostle School which made this school supply drive possible," Leonard said.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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