Thanks to second grade students at Andalusia Elementary School, Christmas will be as merry as it can be given the circumstances for six local soldiers serving abroad.

Soldiers are: Allen S. Childers, Hunter Gadd, Warren E. Maddox, Ryan Smith and Yvonne Williams.

Throughout the week, students have brought in scores of items for Christmas care packages for the soldiers, Marines and sailors who are from Covington County.

John Givhan, a retired Army helicopter pilot and local veterans’ advocate, said the children’s generosity was a perfect illustration for the day.

“I think it’s truly fitting for them to do this on Pearl Harbor Day,” Givhan said. “I think it serves their memory well. These items will be greatly appreciated by those who get them.”

Givhan said the annual event shows generosity on two fronts – one from the children, and another from local residents.

“People have donated generously to the military account at Pack-N-Ship, so we have the funds to get these packages to our service men and women,” he said of the account used to cover the costs associated with shipping items to deployed service members.

Givhan said donations are always needed and can be given at Pack-N-Ship, located on River Falls Street.