Soldier visits kids to say thanks

NEWPORT BEACH — For a year and a half, students at Mariners Elementary School have provided supplies to soldiers across the world. On Monday, one of them stopped by to say thanks in person.

The school, along with Cub Scout Pack 325, adopted the U.S. Army’s Camp Black Horse in Afghanistan in 2005. Several times throughout the year, Mariners students send toiletries, socks, candy and more to the soldiers — including First Lt. Jacob Margolis, a Costa Mesa resident whose children attend Newport-Mesa schools.

Margolis, who recently came home on leave, visited Mariners during the flag deck ceremony Monday. Students posed for pictures with him and signed a massive banner to send back to Afghanistan. Second-grader and Scout member Jake Rooney also presented him with a gift box, which his grandmother, Jill Lindsay, said contained a sweatshirt with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District logo and the words “Support Our Troops.”

“This is a little bit overwhelming, but I’d like to take a moment to thank you for the support you’ve provided,” Margolis told the crowd.

He also thanked the school for shipping candy to his base — although he noted that the soldiers rarely partook, since there were eager customers outside.

“Even though most of the candy goes to the local Afghan kids, it’s greatly appreciated,” he said.