Students honored for being pen pals

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn PEN PALS-Lt. Todd Spiegel, right, looks at a mezuzah of the E-2C Hawkeye he flies in the U.S. Navy that he received as a gift for being a pen pal with students at Heschel West Day School during a ceremony at Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills on Tuesday. On the left is Airman Charlotte Crocker.

Heschel West kids showed support for U.S. military

Members of the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Seven, or VAW-117, based at Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station, attended the Heschel West Day School’s Chanukah celebration earlier this week on Tues., Dec. 16 to thank students for participating in a pen-pal program.

The Heschel West Military Pen-Pal Program involved the school’s fourth- and fifth-graders who wanted to show support for U.S. armed forces as war loomed, according to school officials.

The U.S.S. Nimitz was home to VAW-117—described as one of the most technologically advanced Naval Air Squadrons in the U.S.—for eight months during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Students who participated wrote letters, shared photos, sent e-mails and care packages, including a handmade 6-ft. banner signed by all the students.

The Heschel West students’ banner was displayed in the Nimitz’s aircraft maintenance hangar.

Their deployment concluded Nov. 5 and the squadron returned home safely.

Squadron members attended the Chanukah celebration at Temple Aliyah, 6025 Valley Circle, Woodland Hills where they had the opportunity to personally thank students for their participation in the program and their support of VAW-117’s efforts.