DoDEA

PEACHTREE CITY, GA — September 5, 2007 — The Department of Defense (DoD) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Cuba, (DoDDS-Cuba) will conduct a very special dedication ceremony for the Patrick L. Kessler Elementary School at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, on Fort Stewart, GA.

“We’re very proud to have our newest school named after 3rd Infantry Division Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class Patrick L. Kessler,” said Dr. Joseph Guiendon, South Carolina/Fort Stewart District - DoDDS Cuba Superintendent. “The school, which opened its doors in August of 2005, was comprised of temporary modular buildings for two years and called Fort Stewart Elementary School. In 2007, as the new building neared completion its name was changed.”

Fort Stewart’s vision is to be the world’s best installation for training and deploying Armed Forces, as well as provide the highest quality environment for soldiers to live and raise a family. In keeping with the vision, Fort Stewart partnered with the Residential Community Initiative (RCI) to build the Liberty Woods housing which brought more families onto the post and created the need for the school.

The ceremony will be attended by PFC Kessler’s sister-in-law, Virginia Kessler and his nephew, Robert Kessler. His surviving sister, Gladys Carseas, is unable to attend. All are from Middletown, Ohio.

Also attending will be Dr. Joseph Tafoya, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Director, Dr. Shirley Miles, DoDEA Associate Director for Education and Principal Deputy Director, and Dr. Elaine Beraza, DDESS Director.