With pride, Thomas Halbrook held up his card made for a member of the military. What it lacked in words it made up in heart.

Thomas, 6, was one of the students in Gina Schubel's kindergarten class at Holy Family Elementary School in Granite City who made cards for military members last week. All classes at Holy Family sent letters to service members as a Veterans Day project.

Thomas didn't take the task lightly. To begin, he clenched his tongue between his teeth and grabbed a black marker to draw part of his picture.

"Even though we're doing a drawing, we still work quietly so others can use their brains," Schubel told the class of drawing kindergartners.

Schubel reminded her pupils that their cards didn't have to be about the military. "If you were missing your mom and dad, what kind of pictures would you want to send?"

It was one of many activities Thomas and his classmates are doing as they move toward the half-way point of the school year.

"The biggest thing that they're doing now is learning to read," Schubel said. "Right now they're learning so much. Everything is so new to them."

Thomas is among those who likes reading. His reason? "'Cause you discover things like science." He also likes reading because it earns him free food.

With the Pizza Hut "Book It" program, he can get a free pizza a month by reading 10 books. He's hungrily consuming the books, his mother Suzanne Halbrook reports.

"Other than that, he's like most kids. He's already making his Christmas list," she said.

Contact reporter Jim Merkel at 618-344-0264, ext. 138