"On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," Indiana's state song, isindeed far away from Eagle Base in Tuzla, Bosnia where about 650Indiana National Guard members are stationed.
Wednesday afternoon Indiana's First Lady Maggie Kernan talkedabout her recent visit to Eagle Base in a picture presentation toO. W. Storer Elementary School students.
In the front row, among the 60 fourth-graders, were two girlswhose fathers are stationed at the base in Bosnia. Kylie Leonard,10, who is in the fourth grade and Kaylee Candelario, 8, who is asecond-grader, listened as Kernan described the base and people shemet during her five-day visit.
"I like to visit the fourth grade classes because this is theyear they begin to learn about Indiana state history," Kernansaid.
Kernan visited other Indiana schools and brought about 600 cardsto the stationed troops. The soldiers are from theIndianapolis-based 38th Infantry Division.
On the trip, Kernan met Kaylee's father, Spc. Edward Candelario.He has been gone for exactly nine months on Thursday, Spc.Candelario's wife, Monique, said.
Kaylee said she talks to her dad on the webcam about once amonth. Monique Candelario said her husband calls daily and withoutthe support of the school his deployment would be even moredifficult.
She said this is the first time, in his seven years of service,that he has been deployed since the birth of their children. Theyalso have a 3-year-old son, Kory.
"We hope he'll be home sometime before Christmas," she said."We're keeping our fingers crossed."
During her presentation, Kernan showed the children a pictureshe had taken inside of the cockpit of a Black Hawk, a helicopterflown by Kylie's father, Chief Warrant Officer William Leonard.
Since his deployment in February, Kylie said her classmates senthim a care package of Girl Scout cookies. In return, he sent a flagthat was flown over the base headquarters framed with a plaquethanking the school for their gift. Officer Leonard's wife, Kelly,said this is his first long-term deployment in his 26 years in theservice. The Leonards have two other sons: Nicholas, 10, and Josh,22.
Kernan said she is proud of the soldiers in the Indiana NationalGuard and the many Indiana residents who volunteer.
She said the Indiana National Guard is the fifth-largest in thecountry, and she was honored to have this experience and proud ofthe efforts of soldiers stationed in other countries as well.
"We must remember our soldiers in our thoughts and prayers,"said Kernan. "To let them know we are proud of them."
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