RES students meet their pen pal
By Staff
Rebecca James, Franklin County Times
Sgt. 1st Class James Morris got to meet with his Russellville Elementary School pen pals Tuesday on a brief trip home.
Morris has been corresponding with students from Paula Malone's 4th grade class at Russellville Elementary School since October. This visit was his second to the class.
He has been stationed at Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii for the past five years, where he has been working for the Army designing programs for their computer systems.
He will be retiring from the Army later this year after 20 years of service.
"You are my one and only adopted pen pal class," Morris told the students. "When I was deployed. I got very lonely. One of the things that helped me the most was hearing from you."
Malone encouraged the students to keep writing to other soldiers after his retirement.
"Keep up the good work," he said. "You guys gave me a flavor of home and corresponding with you has been great, but I want to encourage you to keep corresponding with the other soldiers once I retire."
Morris told the children about his experiences in the military and also read them a book that his son Jamaal, a student in Ms. Malone's class, had picked for them.
"I like my job because of the people. I've had some great experiences with the people that I have met," Morris told the students.
He also encouraged the students to enjoy their time in school.
"If I had a time machine, I would love to go back to where you guys are right now," Morris said. "School is very important, and this really is a valuable time for you. Enjoy school while you can because learning is fun."
Morris also encouraged the students to never take for granted the successes they have in their lives.
"Through life, when you find yourself being successful, always make sure to reach over your shoulder and give back to the people that helped you," Morris said. "Your teachers and administrators in school play a big part in the success. Always look up to them, and learn from them, because they have been where you are now."
Morris has collected all of the letters that the children have written him and plans to put them in a scrapbook.
"I would like give a special thanks to Ms. Malone for giving me the opportunity to correspond with her class," Morris said.
