Soldier says thank you

WORLAND – A Worland Middle School student received a flag from a local U.S. Army National Guard solider on the first day of school.

During an assembly on Aug. 18 eighth grader Macy Trombley was presented with the encased flag from U.S Army National Guard solider Mitchell Aagard from Worland.

Last school year Trombley took it upon herself to write to the 33 servicemen in Mitchell’s unit after learning Worland Middle School paraeducator Pam Aagard son was deployed in Afghanistan.

Pam said she told students she liked to write to her son as often as she could because it was a connection to home, and the students in Liz Becher language arts class would write to soldiers.

“When he was over there, kids would send letters but this young lady wanted to make sure everyone in his unit got a letter. So every day she would come in and say, ‘I have a few more. Can I have more time?’ … but then she ran out of time (when the semester ended) … and was devastated,” Pam said.

Trombley wanted to write 33 personalized letters to everyone in Mitchell’s unit, but school ended before she could reach her goal. Pam Aagard said although Trombley did not meet her original goal, she ended up writing 15 personalized letters to different servicemen including letters to Aagard.

Pam said Trombley’s determination impressed her son so much, and he decided he would bring a flag home from his unit’s deployment her to say thank you for everything she did.

When he brought the flag with him, and his father built a case for it and it was decided they would recognize Trombley on the first day of school in front of the whole student body, Pam Aagard said.

Mitchell said the letters, “Definitely made life easier while we were there.” He came home from his deployment at the end of June.