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"Lessons Outside the Classroom".
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary adopted our 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton in 2008. We have partnered with our Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group to meet the mission of taking care of our Marines, Sailors, our Wounded while deployed and their families left behind. To that end, we have not only included our Rotarians in service projects on their behalf, but also our Interact Club and other school age children.
Having children participate in Support and Outreach for our Military gives every student an American history lesson about our servicemen and women who left their families to serve their country bravely a world away from everything they knew and everyone they loved. It teaches them about the honor and integrity of those who came before us and fought heroically to protect the ideals we hold dear as Americans. The lesson that "Freedom isn't free" is one that needs to be shared with our youngest generation so that they can begin to appreciate that the world they live in is one that "All gave some and some gave all."
Here are the ways Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary have partnered with youth to take care of our Military:
Our "Care and comfort packages" to those who are deployed to the Middle East. Interactor kids and students from "Friends of the Fighting Fifth" from Dana Hills High School and also Don Juan Avila Elementary school stand outside of Walmart to collect goodies from home for the boxes sent around the globe. Toiletries, socks, candy, other necessities and morale-building items are shopped for by patrons of Walmart and then donated and sent to the Middle East.
"Packing parties" are a great time to work shoulder to shoulder together; Rotarians and Youth, to pack the goodies, fill out customs forms and send the packages in country to our troops.
"Hand- made cards" and letters to our Troops are enclosed in the goodies boxes overseas. Precious sentiments and drawings from the students are sent to our service members. Supplies for these cards is needed each year. Students then deliver the cards to the Rotary meeting to be packed in the care packages. We offer Students the opportunity to lead the flag salute and share what the project meant to them.
It is our hopes that teaching our students about "Service above Self" demonstrated by Rotarians and our Military members alike will help them to strive to live up to the example of our heroes by leading good and honorable lives.
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