Deployed Soldier Meets Special 5-Year-Old Friend and Student Patriot

February 11, 2011 -- Army PFC Sean Healy met 5-year-old Addy Hinton for the first time. She had picked him to be her special soldier.

She sent him packages and pictures. Healy, who is from Arvada, has been serving in a platoon in Afghanistan that has had more casualties than any other in the last three months.

For him, sitting in front of a fire means they were able to burn trash they had. The soldiers are always worried about enemy fire. "A nice warm meal is unforgettable," he said.

There is not much that is bright or cheerful there, so the gifts Addy sends, including her hand-drawn pictures, are treasures. "You are the most important thing on my wall," he told the little girl after they met at the Mimi's Café in Golden, "because it means that much to me."

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