FALLBROOK – Just before Christmas vacation, Mrs. Stillman’s third grade class at Bonsall Elementary sent a care package to troops currently deployed in the HMLA-169 Unit. The HMLA stands for Helicopter Marine Light Attack.

Included in the package were gifts of suckers, Chex mix, peanuts, gum, chocolate, beef jerky, candy, magazines, and crossword puzzles.

MSgt Troy Arndt is a proud serving marine and parent of a student in her class, Cody Arndt, and he is currently on his last deployment before returning home after over 20 years of faithful service and multiple deployments.

Stillman taught a focused lesson on local government, heroes in the Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] community, and community service as part of the third grade common core standards to tie in real world learning in education.

MSgt Arndt sent the class a thank you letter telling the students about his life and his job in the Marines. He also wrote, "I would like to thank each one of you for thinking of me and my Marines while we are deployed. Thanks again for all the yummy snacks you put together and the really nice letters that you wrote."

In honor of her class and the thoughtful gifts, the unit will be flying a flag on an upcoming mission.