Members of the Garden City Middle School band program, under the direction of Mrs. Martha Boonshaft, have launched Project S.O.S. (Support Our Soldiers), a community service program to support our soldiers in Iraq. Garden City resident Lt. Col. Kenneth Storz has been deployed in Iraq since October. The students have been collecting food items and other necessities that have been requested on a "Wish List" sent from the soldiers that Lt. Col. Storz commands. Members of the eighth-grade band formulated the idea after seeing pictures of the conditions in Iraq brought to school by eighth-grade percussionist, Matthew Storz.

The music department in the Garden City School District has a long-standing tradition of public service performances including: the SEPTA Fair, Homecoming, Arbor Day, and the parade and ceremonies for Memorial Day. This program is an extension of that community service and part of the curriculum of the Middle School band program. Music plays a large role in ceremonies, but it is also important for the students to remember, with actions, what they express in the music they perform.

Participation in this volunteer program has been outstanding. The Garden City Middle School band program would like to publicly thank Mr. Robert Sopp and Ms. Mary Brennan from The UPS Store, located at 734 Franklin Avenue in Garden City for providing all of th e boxes and packing materials. Sixteen extra large boxes of necessities have been collected. Items include everything from chips and drink mix to DVSs and disposable razors and are on their way to "Support Our Soliders."