Backpacks donated to wounded soldiers

DE PERE - Students across the area brought their backpacks to school Thursday, but for some, those backpacks had a special purpose.

At Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in De Pere, students were giving theirs away to wounded soldiers.

The packs were stuffed with supplies the soldiers might need.

During the past few months, the students collected items to give.

Two servicemen were on hand for the event. They say both the supplies and who they came from make all the difference.

"The feeling behind it is like 'Hey someone back home is thinking about you' and a lot of people don't believe that Marines or sailors or those wounded think about that, but they do. Because they want to know that what they did and what they're doing is for something, at least someone knows their doing it and that's exactly what this is," said U.S. Marine Corp. Captain Michael Pavlick.

School officials say the event is to remind students of the importance of Memorial Day. The holiday will be held on May 30th this year.