By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

A U.S. flag flown at a base in Iraq was the highlight of the day May 22 in Gail Conwell's Lake Tapps Elementary School classroom.

Jewel Lingnaw and her third-grade classmates received a special present, repaying their patriotism.

Earlier in the school year the students in the class began writing letters to soldiers serving in Iraq.

Jewel was writing to a particular soldier named David Floyd. She wrote to Floyd from her class and from home, also sending him e-mail messages. She told her grandmother, Patti Lingnaw, about her letter writing. Her grandmother was very surprised when Jewel told her the soldier's name.

&#8220I told her I know him,” Lingnaw said. &#8220The Floyds went to Lake Tapps school. Jewel's dad and aunt knew David Floyd.”

Around Christmas Jewel and her aunt, Kim Lingnaw, put a care package together to send to Floyd, who was stationed in &#8220Q-west,” Iraq.

&#8220Jewel picked out body soap, apple cider and deodorant,” Kim Lingnaw said. &#8220It was Christmas time and she tried to put in everything she could think of that he would enjoy. I did have to tell her Tiger Beat (teen magazine) was not something he would enjoy.”

Floyd returned the kindness with a U.S. flag that had been flown at the Iraq base March 21.

Patty and Kim Lingnaw and Jewel's mother brought the flag to the school May 22 wrapped in red, white and blue paper and tied up with a ribbon. The package was opened in class and inside was an encased flag with a proclamation thanking Jewel and her classmates.

&#8220It was very exciting,” Jewel said after the classroom ceremony. &#8220I really like the flag.”

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.