Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 3, 1994 TAG: 9403030203
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Once they spotted Thurman, their teacher had trouble getting the students to settle down.
"Winston's here! Winston's here!" they shouted, running toward the door.
Once inside, he received a soldier's welcome. They ran up and hugged him.
"Welcome home, Winston," they repeated, smiling.
Thurman's aunt, Debbie Keaton, drives Highland's special education bus. And it was her idea that the students in Cole's class write to Thurman, who was serving in Somalia.
"I was surprised," said the 21-year-old Marine from Southeast Roanoke, when he opened a package from the United States and found cards and photographs inside from each of Cole's trainably mentally disabled students.
Thurman wrote back, sending his own photograph in full uniform and a letter saying how nice it was to receive their special mail.
On leave in February to visit family in Roanoke, Thurman met his new friends in person.
He brought posters from the Marine recruiting center - one for each child. And, the children - in kindergarten through the third grade - presented him with a red, white and blue cake, served with Kool-Aid.
The visit was short, though. Thurman was leaving for Camp Lejeune in North Carolina later in the day.
He found saying goodbye was not as easy as meeting the students for the first time.
Courtney, who does not speak, lingered at Thurman's elbow, leaning over occasionally for a squeeze.
Jerry Lee ran across the room, leaping into the burly Marine's arms.
"Don't go, Winston," he said.
"Thank you for coming," said their teacher, who served in the Peace Corps.
"I remember how we appreciated getting mail - any mail. We will keep writing as long as we know how to find you," she said.
by CNB