Soldiers keep their promise
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
5/3/2008

Master Sgts. Valentino Lopez and Tom Fahnestock give a special thanks to Mann second graders

Two returning soldiers fulfilled a promise to a second-grade class on April 24 after spending six months in 120-degree weather in Baghdad, Iraq.

Cherry Hill residents Master Sgt. Valentino Lopez and Master Sgt. Tom Fahnestock returned to the township two weeks ago after serving as part of a security force for the Sather Air Base for the past six months. The two grateful soldiers could have spent their remaining leave with their respective families, but they had made a promise to honor a number of Horace Mann Elementary students who made their time away from the country a little more tolerable.

“We knew we had to thank them for their support. They did so much for us while we were overseas,” Lopez said. “They took the time to send letters, pictures, they did so much. This is just our way of thanking them.”

Thus the returning soldiers marched into the general auditorium of the elementary school and stood before the wide-eyed students, thanking them in person. The day was made more special for Lopez, as he was able to stand before his son Devin, and answer the proud boy’s questions.

Lopez and Fahnestock addressed the students and thanked all of them for boosting their morale while they were overseas.

“I’m just here today because of all of you,” Lopez said, pointing to all of the second-grade students. “It’s really tough over there when you’re away from your family and friends, but you guys did a great job. We loved receiving all of your cards and pictures, thank you all.”

The two soldiers then issued a proclamation to the students and school for their hard work in the past six months. Also, in a surprise gesture, the soldiers presented the class with an American flag that had flown at the Sather Air Base for several days in honor of the elementary school.

Principal Robert C. Sweeney accepted the flag and thanked the soldiers for fighting for the freedoms he and the students enjoy everyday in this country. The flag will be displayed prominently in the school, he said.

“There are real men and women overseas, children. When you read about these men and the war, you must remember that these are real people,” Sweeney said to the students. “We owe these men a very big thank you for what they’ve done. They fight for us overseas so we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this country.”

The second-grade students showed an extreme appreciation of the two soldiers, who addressed them in their full desert camouflage garb. The students peppered the soldier with questions for about 20 minutes until the school day ended.

When asked what it was like living in Iraq, Lopez perhaps had the best answer of the day.

“It was very sandy, it was very dry, but Uncle Sam fed us well, that was definitely good,” he said with a chuckle. “It was interesting weather. It was 112 degrees when we arrived and we were told it had been 140 degrees a few weeks before we got there.

“Also, it snowed when we were there as well, something we were told hadn’t happened in about 100 years.”

The children were obviously impressed with the soldiers as the bell signaled the end of the day. As Devin walked by Lopez, he seized the opportunity to grab his son for a hug before submitting to several photo requests from the assembled audience.

Both Lopez and Fahnestock said they would be enjoying the rest of their leave with their families before returning to their civilian jobs.

Neither soldiers said they were expecting to serve another term of duty in Iraq.