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Christmas In Iraq For Local Serviceman
Calif. Schoolchildren Provide Holiday Cheer Through Care Packages
By Erin Maguire, The Bulletin
In November, Trista Raczyla’s fourth grade class at St. John School in California sent Thanksgiving and Christmas packages to two students’ parents in Iraq, including one Philadelphia native.
Now, the plywood barrack of Col. Art Corbett, USMC, a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1974 and Villanova University in 1978, is decorated with wrapping paper, garland and Popsicle stick Nativity scenes made by the children. In response to their acts of kindness, the class received pictures from U.S. Navy Capt. Marta Tanaka, the mother of student Joey Tanaka and a special letter from Col. Corbett, whose son David attends St. John.
After thanking the children for their gifts, Col. Corbett provided an insight into the war in Iraq as he explained the Marines’ role there according to America’s founding principles. Then he told the children how they could safeguard America’s freedom by living Christian lives. Mr. Corbett’s letter also affirmed St. John’s teaching on values and celebrated this season of gratitude.
“I’ve come to realize how our national wealth and power is rooted in our cultural and religious tradition called ‘Rule of Law,’ ” Col. Corbett wrote the students. “Iraq is a poor nation situated on top of a wealth of oil, but the Iraqi people do not benefit from this wealth because they do not share our understanding of “law” and how it shapes our behavior.
“American soldiers, sailors, airmen and those particularly handsome men called Marines have freed the Iraqi people from a horrible tyranny, just as our Founding Fathers freed us to be Americans in 1776,” he continued. “But now it is up to the people of Iraq, just like it is up to us every day, to make that freedom count. You don’t have to be a Marine to defend our freedom; you just have to put our Christian values to work as good citizens.”
Col. Corbett told the students they could be good citizens by volunteering in the community and, when they turn 18, voting according to their morals.
In the letter, Col. Corbett also explained relativism. He told the students that nations and religions are founded on different laws and values, and “some are much better than others.” He warned them that people who belittle differences between laws and values “don’t understand the great gifts they have been given.”
“Our Founding Fathers birthed a nation rooted in Christian values and Natural Law,” Col. Corbett wrote. “The fundamental basis for all good laws is the 10 commandments, which Jesus summarized as two basic laws: Love God with your whole heart, and mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Equating Jesus’ death on the cross with individuals’ communal responsibility, he explained that Christianity’s God is unique because He is not just “all-powerful,” but also “all-loving.” Nations succeed when they “abide by Christ-centered laws,” he wrote, and 4th graders have a responsibility to live these laws as well.
“Ultimately, our strength as a nation is not based on our Armed Forces, it is based on 4th graders who come to understand God’s love, His laws and how they must guide our actions as citizens, so that we can continue to build communities based on trust and respect of the rights of others — not the free exercise of power,” he wrote. “There is great work for you to do.”
In addition to art projects, decorations, and large bags of chocolates, the children also sent letters and prayers to the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. Clare Hollerbach, a parent volunteer who helped with the activity, said of the students’ gifts, “I know the art pieces and letters were from the heart and the prayers were so loving.”
Mrs. Hollerbach said the project affirmed St. John’s teaching, which is that of the gospel.
“We try to teach our children to practice and carry out spiritual and corporal works of mercy as God wants us to,” she said. “When we are helping the poor, bringing canned goods for the food pantry, writing prayers to the troops, praying for the sick, etc. we are instilling compassion in the students.
“Without compassion, prayer and selfless giving we are nothing,” she added. “The Golden Rule, which Jesus taught us: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’ will be carried with them forever. After all, isn’t that what Col. Corbett and Capt. Tanaka are doing for us and their country?”
According to Col. Corbett’s letter, the answer to Mrs. Hollerbach’s question is, “Yes.” In addition to thankfulness for their many privileges during this season and year-round, selfless giving is exactly the message he wants the students to remember.
“What you learn every day at St. John’s is what will enable every one of you to become warriors for Christ and heroes to the less fortunate in our country and the world,” Col. Corbett said. “Some of you will be truly great, not because of your power over your fellow citizens, but because of your selfless service to them.”
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us.
Now, the plywood barrack of Col. Art Corbett, USMC, a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1974 and Villanova University in 1978, is decorated with wrapping paper, garland and Popsicle stick Nativity scenes made by the children. In response to their acts of kindness, the class received pictures from U.S. Navy Capt. Marta Tanaka, the mother of student Joey Tanaka and a special letter from Col. Corbett, whose son David attends St. John.
After thanking the children for their gifts, Col. Corbett provided an insight into the war in Iraq as he explained the Marines’ role there according to America’s founding principles. Then he told the children how they could safeguard America’s freedom by living Christian lives. Mr. Corbett’s letter also affirmed St. John’s teaching on values and celebrated this season of gratitude.
“I’ve come to realize how our national wealth and power is rooted in our cultural and religious tradition called ‘Rule of Law,’ ” Col. Corbett wrote the students. “Iraq is a poor nation situated on top of a wealth of oil, but the Iraqi people do not benefit from this wealth because they do not share our understanding of “law” and how it shapes our behavior.
“American soldiers, sailors, airmen and those particularly handsome men called Marines have freed the Iraqi people from a horrible tyranny, just as our Founding Fathers freed us to be Americans in 1776,” he continued. “But now it is up to the people of Iraq, just like it is up to us every day, to make that freedom count. You don’t have to be a Marine to defend our freedom; you just have to put our Christian values to work as good citizens.”
Col. Corbett told the students they could be good citizens by volunteering in the community and, when they turn 18, voting according to their morals.
In the letter, Col. Corbett also explained relativism. He told the students that nations and religions are founded on different laws and values, and “some are much better than others.” He warned them that people who belittle differences between laws and values “don’t understand the great gifts they have been given.”
“Our Founding Fathers birthed a nation rooted in Christian values and Natural Law,” Col. Corbett wrote. “The fundamental basis for all good laws is the 10 commandments, which Jesus summarized as two basic laws: Love God with your whole heart, and mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Equating Jesus’ death on the cross with individuals’ communal responsibility, he explained that Christianity’s God is unique because He is not just “all-powerful,” but also “all-loving.” Nations succeed when they “abide by Christ-centered laws,” he wrote, and 4th graders have a responsibility to live these laws as well.
“Ultimately, our strength as a nation is not based on our Armed Forces, it is based on 4th graders who come to understand God’s love, His laws and how they must guide our actions as citizens, so that we can continue to build communities based on trust and respect of the rights of others — not the free exercise of power,” he wrote. “There is great work for you to do.”
In addition to art projects, decorations, and large bags of chocolates, the children also sent letters and prayers to the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. Clare Hollerbach, a parent volunteer who helped with the activity, said of the students’ gifts, “I know the art pieces and letters were from the heart and the prayers were so loving.”
Mrs. Hollerbach said the project affirmed St. John’s teaching, which is that of the gospel.
“We try to teach our children to practice and carry out spiritual and corporal works of mercy as God wants us to,” she said. “When we are helping the poor, bringing canned goods for the food pantry, writing prayers to the troops, praying for the sick, etc. we are instilling compassion in the students.
“Without compassion, prayer and selfless giving we are nothing,” she added. “The Golden Rule, which Jesus taught us: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’ will be carried with them forever. After all, isn’t that what Col. Corbett and Capt. Tanaka are doing for us and their country?”
According to Col. Corbett’s letter, the answer to Mrs. Hollerbach’s question is, “Yes.” In addition to thankfulness for their many privileges during this season and year-round, selfless giving is exactly the message he wants the students to remember.
“What you learn every day at St. John’s is what will enable every one of you to become warriors for Christ and heroes to the less fortunate in our country and the world,” Col. Corbett said. “Some of you will be truly great, not because of your power over your fellow citizens, but because of your selfless service to them.”
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us.
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