Austin Salutes: Sgt. Mark Morris

SOUTHWEST ASIA (KXAN) - Deployed airmen took the chance to help children learn about how the world as we know it was discovered.

Master Sgt. Mark Morris, an Austin native was among those in southwest Asia who volunteered his time to help fifth-graders during their Explorers Field Day on Jan. 26.

The class recently finished learning about different pioneers including Marco Polo, Sacajawea, and Neil Armstrong.

Senior Airman Ruben Heredia helped teachers run the orienteering station, and he was able to share some of his personal experience with the students.

Morris helped the students make paper rockets.

Other activities included learning skills such as knot-tying, first aid, cartography, and team building.

"Explaining how to use a compass to all the groups has been pretty fun," said Senior Airman Ruben Heredia, native of San Antonio. "I remember learning land navigation and learning the military method of using a compass at my last base, so trying to break it down and not get too technical is really a fun challenge."

Chad Martin, a fifth-grade social studies teacher at the school, said that the airmen brought valued experiences to the children.

"The children meet people that they maybe wouldn't meet on a normal day, and that new experience is very beneficial for them," said Martin. "Some of the children here have never really been exposed to Americans, so it was great to have the military join us."

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