Little girl with big, generous,
patriotic heart

              Sandy Dickson

     Though she's still considered a young girl, altruism reigns in the heart and soul of 9-year-old Mackayla Kutz Hampton of Zion.

     When her July 4th birthday was just on the horizon,  she started wondering what she could do to 'give back' and composed an invitation in the form of a letter to her friends and family.

     There were 4th of July parties everywhere that day and maybe even a few birthday parties, but this one was different.

     In part, her letter says: "I am a very lucky girl and every year everyone has always been so good and generous to me. This year I want to give something back. I want to do something special to help support all the brave service men and women that are overseas. .."

     The invitation goes on to say that in lieu of the birthday gifts typical of her other 4th of July picnic- parties, which this year took the form of a pig roast luau, she requested the guests bring items appropriate to be used and enjoyed by the troops in Iraq.

     She said she has already gotten a lot of things over the years and her room scarcely has space for any more anyway, so she is happy to use her birthday to bless the troops in some way. She said this would be the best birthday present she could receive.

     Accompanying the invitation was a list of things her grandfather copied from a Legions magazine about what things the troops need. The list in small part,  includes various personal items such as razors, toothbrush and toothpaste, pain relievers, sun block. Under the 'Fun and Games' category:  CD's, DVD's, flying discs, jump ropes, disposable cameras are a small part of the list. Food items include pre-sweetened powdered drink mixes, teas, canned or dried fruit, crackers, spices, hard candy, gum. Practical items could be bandannas, batteries, International phone cards, mini fans, hand warmers, envelopes, writing implements, small flashlights.

     There were about 50 guests in all, mostly adult family members and friends, but a handful of kids as well. Everyone came bearing appropriate gifts, which Mackayla had requested not be wrapped, so that she could package them herself.

     The guests were greeted by Marine Vic Smith in full uniform, who stood under an awning near a table at the entrance of the fenced yard, placing the gifts on a table along with the rest of the bounty.

     Mickayla. the perfect hostess, was enjoying wearing her luau gear as she circulated among her guests, chatting. She did stop long enough for pictures, however. Here, she appears with Marine friend of the family, Vic Smith, who is stationed at The Reserve Center in Waukegan.

     Vic will be receiving some of the gifts to give his service buddies, whose company will be activated between September and October 15, and in Iraq by the first of the year. The other gifts will be given to veteran Bob Ochsner, a deacon at Mickayla's church who lost his son James Scott in 2005 on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. It was his fourth tour of duty.

     Currently, Ochsner has another son, Robert Ochsner, who is serving in the Iraq war, who will receive Mickayla's gifts and distribute them among his fellow soldiers.

     A generous, patriotic heart was born on this patriotic day, and beats in the chest of Mickayla Kutz Hampton.