Contra Costa Sun

Troops receive holiday cheer By Janice De Jesus STAFF WRITER Grace Hillabrant's uncle won't be home for Christmas this year. Christian "Helicopter Chris" Pugsley, a U.S. Army flight medic, is currently in Balad, Northern Iraq . So Grace and other students at Moraga 's Saklan Valley School decided to send the holidays to him. Through "Project Helicopter Chris," a Saklan Valley School-wide project, students make and collect gifts to send to Chris and other soldiers in Iraq . Young Isabelle Forlin, whose cousin is also serving in Iraq , says it isn't hard to reach out to people far from home. "When someone is in need I try to help them," says Isabelle, 8, a third-grader at Saklan Valley . "It's more important to give than to receive." Isabelle drew a picture of a farm with chickens and pigs for a calendar to be sent to troops in Iraq . "They probably miss their family and this is to cheer them up," she says.

"Project Helicopter Chris," began when Clare Hillabrant, Grace's mom, suggested her daughter's preschool class make holiday cards to send to her brother Chris' company.

Hillabrant, one of six children in a close-knit family, and her sister Allison, who lives on the East Coast, both decided to organize similar projects in their children's schools.

"My sister and I thought (about) what could we do to make the holidays a little warmer for our brother and others serving in Iraq ," says Hillabrant.

Soon, the entire Saklan Valley School community -- students, parents, teachers -- all jumped in to make cards and calendars, write letters or collect gifts. By the first of this month, 10 boxes were filled with playing cards, games, DVDs, CDs, books, magazines, snacks and holiday ornaments ready to be shipped to Iraq .

Hillabrant says she was overcome with joy and overwhelmed by the support the project received, but Saklan's head of school wasn't surprised.

"Service and concern for others are qualities we strive to instill in students," says Jonathan E. Martin. "It was in the spirit of the school to embrace this project."

Seventh-grader Alexandra Stevenson, 12, helped shopped for stuff to send to troops.

"We bought packs of gum to relieve some of the stress of the soldiers," Alexandra says.

Packs of peanuts and holiday CDs were also purchased to alleviate boredom and entertain troops who can't really celebrate in Iraq , she adds.

Some of the goods sent will go to the Iraqi children.

Ben Lederman, director of early childhood education and Grace's preschool teacher, says the whole school took on the project naturally, because of the students' and parents' benevolent nature.

"We talked about how Helicopter Chris is working with a group of people who won't be home during the holidays," says Lederman of his preschool class. "The children came out with their thoughts and suggestions."

Griffin Dey, a third-grader, drew a picture of the sun, green grass, blue sky, hills and the American flag. He wanted his picture to convey courage and give troops a reminder of home.

"Since they fight battles and see gunshots and people dying, they might want to see something made from children," says Griffin , 9.

At a time when deploying more troops may be a possibility a few days before Christmas, the possibility of any soldier coming home is unlikely.

Hillabrant, who corresponds with "Helicopter Chris" weekly via e-mail, says her 36-year-old brother loves what he's doing. This is Pugsley's second tour of duty in Iraq . A newlywed, he had to leave his new bride, Eileen, at a base in Kansas within months after their wedding.

"It breaks my heart they won't be able to be with their loved ones during the holidays," says Hillabrant. "I feel good to at least have some kind of contact with Chris. But the bottom line is we want him to come home safely."