Special to the Aroostook Republican
Students in Mrs. Desfosses’ and Mrs. Devoe’s class got quite a surprise and a very special visit from their “adopted” soldier last week. The students thought they were just attending a school assembly to explain to the rest of their fellow classmates what it was like for them to have adopted a soldier.
WDES students in the class of Mrs. Desfosses and Brenda Devoe pose with their “adopted” soldier, Sgt. Josh Doroen, of Caribou. Pictured, front row, from left: Richard Easton, Nick Baechle, Stephen Kinney, Sgt. Josh Doroen, Kody Brissette, Anthony Singletary and Dylan Jones-Fuller. Back Row: Matt Forrand, Gary Hewitt, Justin Farley, Mike Forrand, Keith Tarbox and Marianne Helton.
Little did they know the surprise they were in for, a visit from their “big brother Sgt. Josh” Doroen. It turned out that he was able to get a short leave and came home to Caribou for a visit with his wife and two children. One of the top priorities for Josh was a visit with “his kids,” and he came in full uniform, bringing lots of video photos of his base and the country he was stationed in, Afghanistan. The visit truly took the kids by surprise, and their excitement was more than evident all through the assembly, with the students hardly taking their eyes off him. Doroen thanked the class for adopting him, telling them that this was probably one of the most valuable things people back in the states could do for their servicemen. Even letters are more than appreciated by the soldiers. He was so grateful for all he received and was able to share with his comrades overseas and far from home and family. The only thing he had a hard time parting with was his favorite treat, a Slim Jim!
After the assembly, Doroen and his wife spent the rest of the day with the students in their classroom, checking out all the things they had been collecting about him.
It all started the first week or so of school when Brenda Devoe checked through the National Guard agencies for approval in this special adoption. It was approved and accepted by Doroen of the Army National Guard and his wife, and went on from there, growing every day.
The students had a bulletin board dedicated to the soldier, and it contained photos of him at his station in Afghanistan, as well as e-mails that he sent almost daily to the students, giving special messages to each one of them. During the year, the class sent him two boxes of special treats along with a box from the Washburn Food Mart and one from the Food Mart employees. If he didn’t e-mail them every day, the students began to worry, so Josh told them sometimes that he’d be out of the base for a few days, but not to be concerned, and noted how strongly he appreciated this class reaching out to him in such a special way.
One odd coincidence surfaced during an e-mail exchange. Mrs. Devoe told him where a box had come from and mentioned her son-in-law’s name, Dan Martin. It turned out that Dan and Josh knew each other due to attending karate, each bringing one of their children with them! It really is a small world.
This great event was also televised with interviews of the teachers, Doroen and the students who were more than excited to see themselves on the nightly news!
The class will be continuing this adoption until he comes home for good, and the Doroen family is planning for future times with the kids as well.
