BOARDMAN — Students at Boardman Center Intermediate School heard back from soldiers overseas who received their ornaments and letters.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Wakemen sent a thank-you by email to the school after receiving more than 200 handmade ornaments and written letters as part of Operation Evergreen, the school district announced on Friday.

“My name is SSG Andrew Wakeman and I am currently deployed with the U.S. Army. I just wanted to let you know that we received the bag of Christmas ornaments your school sent. I am not sure which class or classes put these ornaments together but I wanted to say thank you. The ornaments were a great addition to our tree and really helped raise the spirits of our soldiers,” the email states.

Principal Randy Ebie said the interaction is a good one for the students.

“This is such a great example for our kids — to make something to brighten the season for someone else is always a reward in itself. But to hear back from the soldiers is icing on the tree, so to speak,” Ebie said.

Project Evergreen has been organized by Pioneer Tree Farm in Poland for 25 years, sending fresh-cut trees overseas to soldiers along with trimmings.

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