Published: Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

School makes life sweeter for soldiers

EAST MANATEE — It’s tough when you’re a 9-year-old boy and your dad is serving his country in a far away country surrounded by the Persian Gulf.

It’s also tough when you are a mom and your son is serving somewhere in the mountains of Afghanistan, one of the most remote places on the planet.

But Braden River Elementary school students and staff are doing what they can to make life a bit sweeter for fourth-grader Cory Albrecht and kindergarten teacher Diana Denisar, who each have loved ones serving overseas.

The students and staff decided to donate part of their recent Halloween haul and send it to U.S. Air Force Capt. Tom Albrecht, stationed in Qatar, and to U.S. Army Capt. Bradley Denisar, who is deployed in Afghanistan.

Albrecht and Denisar have reported that they plan to dispense the candy to fellow soldiers and to children they encounter in their regions.

Braden River Elementary School Principal Randy Mungello made sure the entire school got a geography lesson about Qatar and Afghanistan.

Cory’s classmates and teacher Sue Curry, who are with him every day, know he has times when he is hurting inside. They are learning first hand that service is sacrifice, Mungello said.

“I feel sad for Cory because he doesn’t get to see his dad during these times,” said classmate Shannon Smith. “I get upset over it.”

Classmates Markella Wagner, Morgan Mette and Mason McDermid joined Shannon is accumulating 40 of the roughly 1,000 pounds of candy the school hopes to send to the servicemen.

Cory’s mother, Tia Albrecht, is the school’s PTO president. She is proud of how her son is handling his dad’s absence and how the school has responded.

“Cory is my little soldier,” Albrecht said. “The day daddy was deployed, Cory told me, ‘Mom, when daddy leaves I’ll be the man of the house.’”

Cory gets to talk to and see his dad frequently using the Internet and a Web-cam. But it’s not the same as his father being home.

“Sometimes at night I miss him,” said Cory, who lives with his mom and two brothers, Evan, 6, and Nathan 2, in The Reserve at Crossing Creek, near State Road 70.

Denisar is equally as proud of her son. Bradley Denisar, 28, is so far away from civilization that a package from home is considered a national holiday, Diane Denisar said.

“Bradley talks often about the boredom and nothingness of the region where he is,” said Denisar, whose husband is former Manatee County School District superintendent Gene Denisar. “He is just overwhelmed about the candy coming. He says it will really boost morale.”

Albrecht is due home before Thanksgiving and Denisar has two more months.

Both soldiers plan to come to the school in uniform to thank students in person for their support.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.