Students of Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Cape May, prepare packages to ship to U.S. soldiers Sean and Brandi Glynn in Iraq. The Glynns pay a surprise visit to the students on Friday, Oct. 2.
CAPE MAY — Two U.S. soldiers adopted by Our Lady Star of Sea School students showed their appreciation for the students’ letters, gift baskets and encouragement last week by attending the school’s annual Mass and blessing of the animals on Friday, Oct. 2.
Sean and Brandi Glynn were adopted last year by the seventh grade and their teacher, Michael Beck, an armed forces veteran who would occasionally bring Thomas Glynn, Sean’s grandfather and another veteran, into the classroom.
Continuing from last year, the eighth grade, and subsequently the whole school, has sent letters and packages to the couple, who will be stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington, starting in January, on assignment for at least 12 months.
Expecting their first child in March, the two hope to buy a home there.
“They’ve always kept us in our prayers,” said Sean, a Villas resident who, along with his wife, had been in Iraq since September 2008, not counting a leave last December, which gave them the opportunity to surprise the students when the couple showed up at the annual Christmas show.
“It was a long time, separated from home,” he said. “It’s nice to get letters. A good morale boost.”
During the visit at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sean and Brandi also fielded questions from the students about life in Iraq, and brought in items from the country, including Iraqi money, clothes used by Iraqis, and an American flag which flew over Iraq.