Giving with character

Students participating in the Character Education, After School and the Future Business Leaders of America programs at the Bronaugh R-7 school present several boxes of items to Sergeant Chris Haynes of Moundville, Mo., on Thursday. Students in grades K-12 collected various food items, magazines, toiletries, bug spray, socks and many other things for Sgt. Haynes to take with him when he deploys to Afghanistan in April. Haynes is a 10-year veteran of the Missouri National Guard and said he was "grateful that everyone in the community came together" and donated these items. "It's pretty nice," he said, and he plans to share the donations with the soldiers of his unit. "It's not about me." Haynes is assigned to Company A of the 311th Brigade Support Battalion and has already served one tour of duty in Iraq. He will train at Camp Clark until he is deployed next month with the 548th Transportation Company as a heavy vehicle operator. Haynes' wife, Brittany, is the art teacher in Bronaugh and her fellow teacher Julie Forkner organized the effort because "we are very proud of him." In the photo, from left to right: Darcey Driskel, Johnathon Million, Abby Robertson, Sgt. Chris Haynes, Trinity Haynes and Brittany Haynes.