Traditions Winter Issue 04-05.indd - Junipero Serra High School

Padres Show Support of
Our Troops Deployed Overseas
During the first week of December, many students at Serra took the time to write
Christmas cards to deployed troops overseas in an effort to express their support to those
young men and women who have dedicated their lives for our freedom. With the help
of an organization known as “Operation Sandbox,” approximately 600 Christmas cards
were sent out in the hopes of making a soldier smile.
Karen Ghidossi, current Director of Serra’s College & Career Center, and alumni
mom, first learned about “Operation Sandbox” through another mother in her Air Force
Parent and Spouses On-Line Support Group. Karen’s son, Rick ‘99, is currently a Senior
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Airman (Sr.A) stationed at Shaw AFB in South Carolina. Rick enlisted in the Air Force
following 9/11. He had been deployed to Kuwait and Bahrain, but is currently back
home with his wife, Amy, and three daughters, Katelyn, Cypress, and Emilee . . . PLUS
daughter number four, Julia, soon to arrive!
Operation Sandbox is composed of a group of individuals from all across the
United States who are dedicated to the support and welfare of our soldiers. Their goal is
to make sure any soldier standing in line at mail call will hear his name called. Sometimes,
the only highlight in a deployed soldier’s day is getting mail or talking to family and
friends. There are many soldiers who are single or have no family. Most of the time, they
receive little, if any, mail at all. Just receiving a letter could brighten up their day and
their outlook on life.
In the Padre tradition of giving something back, Karen’s request for letters was
overwhelmingly supported by our teachers and students. On the following two pages are
some examples of what our students wrote.