U.S. Army reservists deployed with the 412th Engineer Command soon will be receiving praise and answering some important questions from students at Porters Chapel Academy.

As part of in-class writing assignments, about 100 first- through sixth-graders wrote letters to more than 60 who are deployed overseas and delivered them to Command Sgt. Maj. David Huddleston at 412th offices on Porters Chapel Road. Also, several signed their names and expressed assorted well-wishes to a poster to be sent along with the letters.

Charlotte Chesnut, 15, headed up both endeavors with her sister, Courtney, 12, whose father, Col. Joe E. Chesnut Jr., returned from deployment this year. They watched it grow from just a few close classmates to nearly a schoolwide project. Kindergarten classes added patriotic color to the artistic display while a few upper-grade English classes took up the letter-writing campaign.

“We went to stores trying to find ideas,” Charlotte said of the poster. “My sister and I drew it and got permission to hang it.”

Letters were inspired by a writing program overseen by the U.S. Army Reserve Family Readiness Program, which works with servicemen’s families while they are overseas.

“It encourages families to stay in touch with their deployed family members,” said Command spokesman Karen Magruder.

While some asked things such as, ‘Are you afraid?’, or ‘Will you get shot?’, most ended in prayers and hopes for a safe and speedy return.

Most were brimming with appreciation for the troops’ sacrifice of time away from their loved ones.

Command Sgt. Maj. David Huddleston of the 412th Engineer Command, left, looks with Charlotte Chesnut, a student at Porters Chapel Academy, at letters that will be sent to the soldiers overseas. (Meredith Spencer * The Vicksburg Post)”Thank you for serving our country and saving us all,” one read.

Huddleston said the school’s pupils need not worry about getting responses back from enlisted men and women who receive mail.

“I got a bunch of letters from some kids,” Huddleston said of his most recent time away from home. “I replied to all of mine.”

This year, the U.S. Army Reserve celebrates the 100th anniversary of its formation. After existing as a unit of Reserve medical officers in its early years, Congress reorganized land-based forces following World War I to include regular Army, the National Guard, and what later became the Army Reserve.

The 412th Engineer Command is an operational command with oversight of about 100 units and nearly 10,000 soldiers east of the Mississippi River from Maine to Florida.