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Another Piece Of The Puzzle

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

THONOTOSASSA - Terrace Community Middle School students broke apart a colorful giant ribbon to reveal their personal puzzle pieces that made up the large memorial.

Each eighth-grader had written a letter on the back of his or her piece. They were personal messages to men and women who had become heroes.

Now, it was time to deliver those pieces. One by one, they scoured the grounds and found their subjects. The students placed puzzle pieces by tombstones, finally meeting their fallen soldiers.

The Terrace Community students recently took a trip to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It was part of the eighth-graders' annual trip to the Washington area, and the culmination of a classroom study.

Before they left for the trip, each student was assigned a member of the military from Section 60 of the cemetery, the area designated for those killed in the most recent Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

The students used the Internet to research as much as they could about their people. Then, they decorated their puzzle pieces and wrote personal letters on the back, thanking them for their service.

"It brought history alive for the students," said Judy Turner, one of the teachers involved with the project. "They learned about people, not just facts."

Taylor Martin, 14, said the project was unforgettable.

"It was interesting to see all those tombs and to know something about someone who was buried there," Martin said. "We wanted to pay respects to these people who served their country."

Some of the students met friends and family members of the fallen heroes. Cole Turner, 14, met Juan Casiano while placing a puzzle piece at the grave of Army Capt. Maria Ortiz. Casiano was engaged to Ortiz. She was killed in July 2007 by a mortar attack in Baghdad. She was the first Army nurse killed in combat since the Vietnam War.

"I liked hearing about her life and how she affected the people around her," Turner said.
Casiano said he was moved by the project.

"It was so wonderful to see that these students had taken the time to learn about Maria and others," he said. "I think schools need to do more projects like this to teach young people to respect the military and the sacrifices made throughout history."
Casiano was so impressed by the project he decided to sponsor five students to go on the Washington trip next year, costing about $5,000.

"Education was very important to Maria, and she understood the value of it," he said. "She spent much of her life giving back to people, and this is just another way she can."

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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