Students’ kindness made a world of difference aboard the USS Bataan

Valentine's Day 2020 was a sweet one for Greensferry Elementary School and Post Falls community members as they shipped care packages to sailors and Marines aboard the USS Bataan in memory of the late Pete Marion, Post Falls' first school resource officer.

The "Packages from Pete" went to the ship where Pete’s son, Mick, is deployed in the Middle East. They contained hand-drawn pictures, notes, candy and lots of other goodies for the brave men and women at sea.

Those loving gifts were received, and Mick responded with photos and a letter of gratitude to Greensferry Principal Kathy Baker, which Baker called "absolutely heartwarming."

"The fact that the kids could see real people holding items and pictures that they drew, it makes it tangible for the kids who it is we’re supporting," she said. "It puts a face on the price of freedom that we pay."

Mick wrote that it was just a normal day, just another replenishment at sea. They expected supplies: food, water, mail.

"As the end of the day was near, my sailors started bringing the packages up to our shop and that is when the heckling ensued for me (unusual amount of packages make someone a prime target)," Mick shared. "They said I had about eight packages … Soon the packages started piling up higher and higher and the number grew to around 30, all marked by a mystery woman they've never heard about from Idaho.

"After I let everyone know that they were in fact not just mine and they were for everyone is when the heckling stopped," he said.

The sailors gathered and supervisors came to see the abundance of boxes. Mick opened the one labeled "open 1st." As he read, he claimed he must have had some "dust" in his eye as the emotion rose in his throat.

"I let my guys know I'd still smack the crap out of them if they said anything," he wrote in jest. "I wiped the dust from my eyes, and we took some pictures and that is when the Christmas after Christmas began."

Mick said there were enough boxes that each sailor was able to have one.

"To say that this was an act of selfless kindness would be an exaggerated understatement," Mick said.

Mick said lately, everyone on the ship has been feeling a little hot, disgruntled and strained in their relationships.

"But as everyone opened packages, bargaining and trading items, I saw them come together as the team that I know and have grown with since last April when we started our deployment exercises," Mick wrote. "Smiles were from ear to ear on everyone's faces. After the pig sunglasses and red clown nose had done a few laps around the shop, everyone had forgotten where we were in the world and I could see all of them finally got a much needed 'reset' on their personal normality that rarely comes during a deployment. The body wash and the Rice Krispies Treats found their sailors in need."

Mick said what no one really realized was how much they needed to read what these loving kids had to say.

"Soon, I slowly started to see the letters from our next generation start to be passed around," he said.

"There were some very heart-filled messages thanking us 'for saving the world' and some very joyful words of motivation that ended with a very appropriate 'Yee-Haw!!!' Everyone was amazed at the amount of community support there was and selfless the children were as well. They were shocked to hear that a class of second-graders gave up their cookies! How there were different fundraisers that were able to reach out to so many different demographics that were willing to help out my sailors."

Mick said these are the reasons he's proud to let everyone know he's from North Idaho.

"I am so thankful to have been raised there and that nothing has changed a bit. You guys and what you continue to do are the reason I want to move back there when it comes time to retire," he said. "Thank you so much for showing how much love you guys have for your military. Everyone out here greatly appreciates everyone that supported Packages From Pete."

He said his dad wouldn't have wanted any of this attention, "but that was just the kind of man he was."

"He just helped out anyone in need no matter who they were or where they came from," Mick said. "He always did it in such a way that it was almost seamless. He would help one person and quietly move on to the next person with no afterthought of who knew or what kind of recognition he received. He would have absolutely been onboard for this effort, and I know that is why you all came together in his name, he just would have fought tooth and nail to keep his name out of it. Everyone continues to surprise me as they carry on what Officer Pete has done for his community. In the end it shows why he had such a big heart, because the community around him has just as big of heart he had for them.

"On behalf of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Eight — Detachment Four "The Tribesmen" — Thank you so much! We are proud to do what we do because of people like you."