HUBS Education Network Spreads Word on Letter Writing Campaign

Thanks to an overwhelming show of support by schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) announced that he will deliver over 5,000 letters to soldiers serving in Uzbekistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Weldon, who is leading a bipartisan delegation to Russia, China and the Korean peninsula, scheduled a stop to the K-2 military base in Uzbekistan to meet with service men and women serving in the War on Terrorism. Upon arrival, the fourteen member Congressional Delegation will deliver the greetings from students from 51 schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

"As America observes the Memorial Day holiday, I am positive that troops will appreciate these wonderful letters that reaffirm America's pride and thanks to our troops serving overseas," noted Weldon. "However, this would not have been as successful had it not been for the help of the HUBS educational network. Thanks to the communication that existed between our regional schools, we were able to gather tremendous response for this morale-boosting effort," declared Congressman Weldon.

Weldon informed teachers and school administrators from five Congressional Districts that he was interested in starting a letter writing campaign for military personnel with the HUBS educational portal. The portal, envisioned by Congressman Weldon and information technology leaders in 1996, creates linkages between schools in an effort to boost resources and communications that will lead to a more holistic learning experience.

"Besides the boost that all these service personnel will receive from the letters, the students now have an opportunity to look back on this and recall that they did their part to make a solider feel at ease while they were away from their family."

Mail for the troops originated from middle and elementary schools from Congressman Weldon's district as well as Congressman Jim Greenwood's (R-PA), Congressman Joe Hoeffel's (D-PA), Congressman Rob Andrews' (D-NJ) and Congressman Mike Castle's (R-DE).

"I commend Congressman Weldon for finding a wonderful way to carry to our troops in Operation Enduring Freedom the proud feelings of our young people," said Rep. Joseph M. Hoeffel. "I am especially happy to know that because of the HUBS educational network, which I enthusiastically supported, he is able to carry many letters from students in my district, including those from the Norristown Area School District."

"This Memorial Day truly reminds us how precious our freedoms and liberties truly are," said Congressman Castle. "Our military men and women who are fighting the war on terrorism are always in our thoughts and prayers, but we thought they could use a little sense of 'home' over this important holiday. This effort would not have been possible without the leadership of Curt Weldon and his HUBS program."

"I am extremely proud of the over 1200 young people from the City of Camden who wrote to offer their words of support, encouragement and gratitude to our brave young men and women in uniform serving in Uzbekistan," said Congressman Andrews. "I thank Congressman Weldon for delivering these letters to our troops in person over the Memorial Day recess and trust that he will express our own words of gratitude and encouragement from the Members of the 107th Congress."

HUBS, which stands for Hospitals, Universities, Businesses and Schools, is an effort that connects key regional assets through information technology linkages. Besides informing teachers about current news and opportunities - like the letter writing campaign - teachers and school officials can harness other value-added benefits that enhance learning capabilities for students across the region.