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Students send special message

Sunrise Elementary School second-graders who were in Eric Kramer's class at the start of the school year wave to an airplane from their position at the school on Tuesday. Kramer, an Army reservist, was deployed to Afghanistan in April. (Liz Kishimoto / The Spokesman-Review)
By Kandis Carper kandisc@spokesman.com
Sunrise Elementary School second-graders who were in Eric Kramer's class at the start of the school year wave to an airplane from their position at the school on Tuesday. Kramer, an Army reservist, was deployed to Afghanistan in April. (Liz Kishimoto / The Spokesman-Review)

A private Cessna 182 airplane circled high above Sunrise Elementary School’s playfield Tuesday as more than 500 students and staff dressed in red, white and blue gathered in formation.

Together they created the message “We (heart) U,” for an aerial photograph.

The photo is part of a care package the students are preparing for Army Master Sgt. Eric Kramer, a U.S. Army reservist and second-grade teacher at Sunrise in the Central Valley School District.

Kramer was deployed to Afghanistan in April. His wife, Deb, and 11-year-old daughter, Audrey, were invited to stand in the center of the heart formed by the students.

Associated Student Body President Aidan Dowling, 10, said the students and staff wanted to show their support for Kramer.

“I don’t think there’s a single person here who doesn’t love Mr. Kramer. He’s awesome,” Dowling said.

The students have collected candy, jerky, phone cards and coffee to send to Kramer. They’ve also taped messages from each class.

Teachers Jan Tyson and Sarah Metcalf organized the aerial photo message. Metcalf’s husband, Ryan, flew the plane for the fly-over photo.

“I find it incredibly heartwarming how the staff, students and parents have rallied to support Mr. Kramer. These kinds of gestures are keeping his spirits up during very difficult times,” said Sue McCollum, principal at Sunrise.

What will Kramer’s reaction be to the photo? “I think he’ll be crying,” Dowling said.

Kramer’s wife agrees. “They know him pretty well. He gets quite emotional,” Deb Kramer said.

Eric Kramer is serving a one-year tour as a chaplain’s aide. If all goes well, he’ll come home for a short break around Thanksgiving.

“He felt it was his obligation to go,” said Deb Kramer. She and her daughter talk to him by phone twice a day.

“We have a long history of service in our family,” said daughter Audrey.

Dowling said that the students at Sunrise Elementary understand what’s going on and know why they’re sending him their messages of support.

“I know about the war. I’m pretty sure he’s in a safe place, but I still worry about him,” Dowling said.