Students Record Messages For Military Families

By Latoya Silmon, News On 6

PRYOR, OK -- Some Green Country students are lending their time and talent to help spread some holiday cheer to military families.

The Northeast Technology Center in Pryor is helping folks tape special messages for their loved ones serving overseas.

The holidays can be especially tough for military families, but cyberspace and a few good students are bringing them together.

Sarah Michels' other half is half way around the world. Army Captain Richard Michels has been in Iraq for more than a year.

"It takes some time to adjust, but we have a lot of family. We intentionally moved back to Pryor so we have my mother and grandmother and a good church family that takes care of us and helps us out," said Sarah Michels, Army wife.

Paula Walters says with a son-in-law in the military she understands how hard the separation can be, so she and her students at Northeast Technology Center are doing their part to help.

They're inviting families like the Michels to tape a holiday message to their favorite Soldier or Marine.

"Everyone that I have talked to has been so positive and say, ‘thank you this great' and ‘we couldn't do this by ourselves,'" said Paula Walters, Northeast Technology Center instructor.

Once families are done, the students edit the videos and post the holiday greetings on Troop Tube. It's a new online site created to help military families stay connected.

"I know every soldier at some point gets a chance to get on a computer a little bit. If they get on and see their family, even if it is only a couple of minutes, that's going to boost their morale and help them to do their job better," said Michels.

And get a taste of home for the holidays.

The school says only eight families have signed up for the project, but there's room for hundreds more.

Paula Walters says they plan to tape messages through December 13th. She hopes this will become a tradition.

To schedule an appointment call Walters at the Northeast Technology Center at (918) 825-5555.