SSG. Jessica Yerkes and Big Red 1

Jessica Yerkes was a former student of the Bristol Township School District (Emerson Elementary, Neil Armstrong Middle School, Harry S Truman High School graduate 2002). In February 2007, Sgt. Yerkes, was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as an Intelligence Analyst for the HHC 610 BSB (Basic Support Battalion) 4 IBCT in the Big Red 1 Unit, Falcon Base. There were 700 soldiers in her battalion and over 2,000 in her brigade. Her job was to research the safest routes and provide security information to the troops, especially when out on convoys. Jessi was a divorced single mom of Hunter, two years old at the time of her deployment, and cared for by her parents.

Student Council at Emerson Elementary and Advisor Cathy Ivins wanted to support their former student as well as our American troops in Iraq. They asked Sgt. Jessi for a wish list of items and started collecting donations in March 2007.

On April 3rd, 2007, Emerson mailed five large boxes of supplies and goodies to Sgt. Jessi and her Big Red 1 unit totaling 150 pounds. Students and staff collected everything from toiletries to writing supplies to music to tons of candy and snacks. Our flyer with her wish list made its rounds to other organizations which then joined us in sending supplies to Jessi and her unit.

This webpage was then hosted as part of Emerson Elementary School’s website to organize the many collections and provide up to date information on the outreach effort. Yellow ribbons were posted for each friend, family, school, and organization who shipped supplies to Jessi for the troops. The collections especially helped soldiers who were wounded, or not receiving correspondence or care packages from home, as well as to soldiers in the field who are running short on supplies. Jessi was made the official person to go to when a convoy was going out. Soldiers knew to contact Jessi when they were in need because of her network of volunteers at home.

On June 5, 2007, Emerson hosted Support Our Troops Day! Students and staff wore red, white and blue, and donated cash towards purchasing more supplies. Each contributor signed a yellow ribbon displayed in our school vestibule. Special guests visiting that day were Sgt. Jessi's mother, father, and son! The Bucks County Courier Times covered the event. On June 19th, Student Council packed and shipped six large boxes full of all the supplies purchased or donated. Items shipped included a care package of medical supplies donated by local Dr. Anthony Mannino, phone cards, batteries, beverage mixes, snacks, toiletries, medicines, many games and movies. A special part of our shipment was bedding, much of which was shared with the wounded soldiers: air mattresses, pillows, sheet sets. Emerson vowed to continue to raise supplies and maintain the dedicated display case until the end of Sgt. Jessi's tour.

In September 2007 Emerson 5th Graders adopted the Echo Company Soldiers who were not receiving mail. They collected supplies needed and packed them into individual shoe boxes with letters. Thanks to Mrs. Marleen Pasek and Miss Brooke Dugan for organizing this wonderful lesson in humanity, character and citizenship.

In October 2007 Emerson collected 107 pounds of left-over Halloween Candy at school to send to the troops. Staff donated pocket change to cover the $59.30 shipping costs.

In addition to distributing the many supplies being shipped to her attention, Jessi was very busy doing her job keeping the troops safe by providing the convoys with a BOLO (be on the lookout for) list. One convoy found a car that was on her list, and it turned out to be loaded with explosives meant for their convoy, so they blew it up. Sgt. Jessi received special commendation for that. In December 2007 she averted her convoy just in time to avoid an IED. Sgt. Jessi was later promoted to Staff Sargeant (SSG) Jessica Yerkes.

In December 2007, our 5th Grade classes sent Holiday Care Packages to the Echo Company soldiers. They packed homemade cookies into tins with candies and sent them along with Christmas Ornaments and a card with a customized Holiday Music CD!

Also in December 2007, Emerson Student Council hosted Sweet Dreams Day! For a donation of $1 or more, students were able to wear pajamas to school and enjoy a movie in the gym. To encourage more donations, we held a raffle of $40 movie tickets. Our school of 370 students, as well as our staff, produced over $600 in donations. We purchased blankets, white socks for men and women, fuzzy socks, deodrants, body sprays and shower gels, batteries, snacks and more to send to SSG Jessi for the troops.

Later in December, SSG Jessi and several fellow soldiers offered to take Flat Stanleys on adventures there in Iraq. Flat Stanley or Flat Sally are paper dolls decorated by students. Mrs. Birch's IU class at Emerson sent their Stanley and Sallys to SSG Jessi. Many pictures were sent to us of their adventures with the soldiers, even on their "R&R", playing X-Box, swimming, and one even got to go to Saddam Hussein’s former mansion. But sadly, one Flat Stanley lost his arm flying in a Blackhawk helicopter. Thanks to SSG. Jessi and the soldiers for their time and kindness in this special adventure for our students.

In 2008, a special thank you was received at Emerson from the HHC. A lovely plaque of appreciation shown here was proudly added to our display case as we waited and longed for Jessi’s return home. Just a few weeks before her scheduled return, she was injured with shrapnel but thankfully it was not serious. Her trip home was long and frustrating with sandstorms, sleeping on a bus, being bumped from her flight by a VIP and then flight delays in the USA.

In May 2008, SSG Jessi finally arrived at Fort Riley in Kansas and was joyously reunited with her family. On May 16th, SSG Jessi visited Emerson and was greeted with a Hero's Welcome! Students lined the hallways in red, white and blue or camouflage and cheered and saluted as SSG Jessi passed by. Student Council lined the halls with military balloons and collected a binder of good wishes from all the students and staff. SSG Jessi greeted and thanked the students, and showed them her Purple Heart for her injury.

You can read more about her welcome home at Iraq Vet Visits Students by the Bucks County Courier Times. Be sure to also visit the Courier Times’ Photo Slideshow of pictures.

We are all so proud of our Jessi! SSG. Jessi earned some valuable time to spend with family and friends before returning to her base in Fort Riley, Kansas. Her next adventure will take her to England this August 2008 where she will serve extra time in the U.S. Army but out of the danger zone.

A special shout-out to the Bucks County Courier Times and their writer Joan Hellyer! They have been tremendously supportive of our endeavor and have covered or publicized every event Emerson has hosted for the troops!

Thanks also to the many organizations and people who have helped SSG. Jessi and the troops, including her family, friends, and church. A total of 86 yellow ribbons acknowledging donations and collections adorned the website along with a photo slideshow, and letters received to and from the troops.

Although this story about SSG Jessi and Emerson has a happy ending, our American Troops remain in Iraq and are in need of continued TLC. If another soldier is able to continue SSG Jessi’s efforts in distributing supplies, Emerson will be posting that information here on this site. Feel free to contact Emerson Student Council Advisor Cathy Ivins with questions or comments. Thanks for your interest and visit to this important site! God Bless America.