Packaging a Little Bit of Home
Roll Call
May 17, 2010
Some gifts really do keep on giving. The Republican staff of the House Homeland Security Committee decided to put together a care package for Cpl. Alex Smith, a Marine serving in Afghanistan who had worked as an intern for the panel.
When the staffers contacted Smith to ask what they should send (junk food he can’t get abroad? Just-released DVDs?), the selfless Marine told them that all he really wanted were school supplies for local Afghan children, HOH hears. So the aides are collecting items that the kids can use and plan to ship the package out today.
Smith, who interned for the committee last fall between tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, will get a stash of crayons, coloring books, markers, pens and pencils, and other provisions for the kids.
But that isn’t all. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the committee’s ranking member, told HOH that he planned to make sure there was a little extra something in it.
“I’m so impressed with his humility,” King said of his former intern, who he called a hero. “We’ll certainly comply with his request and send him a shipment of school supplies, but you can bet that we’ll also put some things in the box for Alex and his fellow Marines to enjoy.”
Talk about a package deal.