SANTA ANA : Support of Troops Wins School a Medal

MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School has been chosen to receive the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for its “Support for the Marines and Navy in Desert Storm” program conducted last year.

The school, selected from among thousands of nominees, was honored for its active letter-writing campaign during the Persian Gulf War. MacArthur students not only wrote more than 1,000 letters to service people during the war, they also “adopted” three naval vessels and their crews.

Last fall, a number of the students learned about the crisis firsthand when they toured the guided-missile frigate Vandegrift, one of the three adopted vessels, after it returned from the Persian Gulf to the Long Beach Naval Station.

Before the award from the Freedoms Foundation was announced, the school had already received national attention for its efforts when Vice President Dan Quayle asked to meet the students during a visit to Orange County last fall.

“The students are thrilled,” said Principal Tom Reasin. “It’s a real honor for the school. The war really hit home for us because at least 25 students had relatives who were involved in the Gulf War.”

MacArthur, a magnet school open to all students in the district on a first-come, first-served basis, stresses community service and good citizenship, Reasin said.

The Orange County chapter of the Freedoms Foundation will present the school with the award during a ceremony Nov. 14 at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Officers Club.