(May 12, 2008)

ROCKPORT--Teaching young children about the Iraq War is no easy task, but in Rockport, one after-school program tried an interesting approach. The elementary students got together and actually made an American flag. That wound up being flown by a combat medic unit in Iraq.

The kids take part in the Odyssesy Afterschool program in Rockport. In its sixth year, the program director wanted to teach the children about patriotism and the American flag.

Some students from the Odyssey Afterschool program made an American flag as part of a project. The program director, who is from a military family, wanted to teach the kids about supporting the troops.

"These are real people that are over there fighting for us. It was kind of heart feeling and it hit home for me," said Sean Sullivan, who is the Odyssesy Program Director. 

"We did it to help the soldiers be strong so they know we believe in them," said Marina Chavez, an Odyssesy Afterschool student. 

"We made it because we thought it would be an inspiration for our soldiers over in Iraq," said Timothy Kelley, an Odyssesy Afterschool student. 

The flag was sent to a combat medic unit flying missions over Northern Iraq. The unit flew with the flag in its helicopter for two weeks. The pilot's mother, Bev Jacobson, works in Rockport and says her son said it was a good luck charm.

"It felt really good everytime they would land this would be the first thing they would see as the injured would see.this giant flag in the dashboard of the helicopter," said Jacobson. "They knew the United States was there to help them."

Jacobson, who works as a secretary at the First Presbyterian Church, one of the two locations for the Odyssesy Program in Rockport. She said it's great to see these young children taking an interest in the soldiers.

""It touches your heart and your soul deeper than I can describe. I wish I had the words to tell you," Jacobson said.

Now this flag assignment has definitely taught the 80 kids involved with the Odyssesy Program a little bit about what's going on in Iraq. Program directors said it's safe to say the kids understand what's going on in the warzone.

"They're fighting the Iraq War to protect the Iraquians to be safe and to be able to sleep at night without being bombed and stuff," Chavez said. 

The flag has been sent back to Rockport with a certificate proving that it flew in Iraq. A ceremony is set for next Tuesday at 5 pm to honor the return of the flag to the Coastal Bend. It will be held at the First Presbyterian Church. The Aransas Pass High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard will present it and return the flag to Jacobson. She plans to hang the flag in her office at the church where the public can see it.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com