SABATTUS — On Feb. 15, students at Oak Hill Middle School presented a check for $439.24 to members of the local American Legion.

Students in Ms. Lanteigne’s seventh grade advisory group initiated a coin drive for Operation Comfort Warrior throughout November and December. The students decorated and distributed empty yogurt containers to every classroom and then gathered them up and counted all the coins collected. It took nearly two weeks for students to count and recount all the loose change and then roll it into coin sleeves.

Operation Comfort Warrior is a program dedicated to raising money for wounded American warriors. The money is used to fund a variety of needs while these veterans are recovering in hospitals or convalescing back home. Items such as sweat suits and cotton socks to ease the pressure on burn wounds, iPods to help drown out tinnitus caused by damage to the eardrum after IED explosions, fitness equipment to help rebuild muscle strength or even gift cards to local stores and home improvement centers to help meet the needs of disabled veterans and their families are just some examples of how the money donated to Operation Comfort Warrior is used.

The presentation ceremony began with the OHMS Band under the direction of Mr. Fuller playing the national anthem. Students Jacob Kirchner, Lindsey Weeks, Drew Gordon, Tyler Desmarais and Chris Campbell made some brief remarks regarding the purpose of the assembly and how their advisory group went about collecting the money for Operation Comfort Warrior.

Lanteigne introduced seven distinguished guests from the local American Legion who attended the presentation ceremony. They included Ron Caron, veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served in Vietnam; Gordon Smith, Navy veteran who served in Korea; Dominic Santamango, Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam; Joseph Michaud, veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served in Panama; Jim Rancourt, active duty Army serviceman who has been in Iraq and who will be going to Afghanistan soon; Tracy Rancourt, who served in the Coast Guard and was stationed in Granada; and finally Joan Caron, auxiliary president of Post 135 in Sabattus.

After student Chris Campbell presented Ron Caron with the check, Caron addressed the student body. He recognized their efforts and sacrifice in raising money for such a worthy cause and shared some stories with them of how their coins will add up to make a big difference. Nationwide, Operation Comfort Warrior is closing in on nearly $500,000 raised thus far.

Caron presented a certificate and a minted coin to the school, which states “Thank you for your service.”

To make a donation or starting an OCW fundraiser at your school or work place, visit www.legion.org/ocw. Checks can be made out to Operation Comfort Warriors, The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

To reach the Legion in Sabattus, contact Ron Caron at P.O. Box 76, Sabattus, ME 04280. His phone number is 375-4639 and his email address is caron3974@aol.com.

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