Re-enlisted vet visits Calcutta

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CALCUTTA - Specialist Skip Allison was feeling nervous on Tuesday afternoon.

The Gulf War veteran will soon be deployed to training and then to Iraq, but on this day, at this particular time, the butterflies in Allison's stomach was a result of the line of students trickling in the multipurpose room at Calcutta Elementary School.

Allison visited the kindergarten through fourth graders to talk a little about Veterans Day and to tell them they could do whatever they want as long as they worked hard at it.

He also wanted to tell the kids he would soon be overseas.

"I'm doing this because I wanted to say bye to you guys," Allison said.

But the guest speaker made a promise and a deal to the kids he would stay in touch.

Allison said he would write them letters if they promised to work hard, eat smart and try to go outside and be active for at least one hour a day.

The correspondence, though, started earlier before the event even started.

As Vicki Hoyt's students walked by Allison before the assembly began, the first-graders swarmed the military man dressed in camouflage to hand him their own special thank you letters.

Allison said he was very, indeed, thankful himself and would pack the colorful cards with the rest of his gear when he gets shipped to Iraq.

The specialist re-enlisted recently after 16 years from his tour in the Gulf War. Allison said he will enter training at various locations across the U.S. at the beginning of December and estimated he would be deployed overseas by spring.

His recent re-enlistment was an anniversary of sorts too.

"As a matter of fact, the day I re-enlisted was my 20th anniversary of going to basic training."

Allison said it was "the duty" that called him back after more than a decade of being out of the military. Currently, the Gulf War vet works in the hauling business.

Even though he'll be leaving his children - one being his daughter Bailey who is a fourth grader and one of the audience members at Calcutta Elementary - his wife and family, Allison said he feels anxious about returning to duty.

"I'm excited," Allison said, as he played through some video footage of a "Heroes" DVD he was prepping for the students.

When speaking to the children, Allison said Veterans Day is special because of the people who defended the right for freedom in this country.

Allison also supplied the teachers with a Web site, www.anysoldier.com, that allows anyone to write to soldiers who are on active duty. He also said www.anysailor.com is another method to contact men and women in the service.

The guest speaker said he would sign up for the program once he gets shipped and is offered the opportunity.

At the end of the presentation, the students, as a whole, thanked Allison for taking the time to visit the school before his deployment.

The appreciation was especially nice to Allison who earlier stated that young kids, like his own, are the most honest type of people one can meet.

Before the Calcutta Elementary Veterans Day assembly began in the afternoon, Beaver Local High School held a special ceremony involving the Beaver Local JROTC members and the high school choir.

The high school students, staff and guests were treated to a formal cake cutting and arms ceremony involving ROTC members. The cake cutting was for the birth of the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775.

The choir, joined by ROTC member and junior Dan Patterson, provided the National Anthem and other patriotic songs throughout the presentation.