Impact of war hits home for local high school students

KUSA - It is not the way that any of the students or faculty at Laredo Middle School in Aurora thought they would learn about war.

The war in Iraq had now come to their door. The students have responded in a very special way.

On Tuesday night the faculty took on the students in a basketball game. The event was "Hoops for Troops." It was their way to support someone who is important to the school and to honor her son.

Dana Baum is a secretary in the Dean's office. Her son, Sgt. Ryan Baum, was killed by a sniper in Iraq on May 18th.

The game was the first time she'd been back to the school since his death.

"It feels good to be back," said Baum. "The kids bring me a lot of joy. I appreciate the thoughts and the prayers so much."

Masiya Jones is a 7th grader at Laredo. She says Sgt. Baum's death has changed the way the students look at the war.

"When you know somebody and someone in their family dies you really feel bad for them but before that you don't really even care," said Jones. "I think all the students are more respectful of some things now."

Jessica Price-Turner is a Dean at Laredo.

"For our kids, especially at the middle school level, it's hard for them to see beyond themselves," said Price Turner. "To experience this tragedy has really hit home and made it personal."

The students made Mrs. Baum a stack of cards. They wrote letters to Sgt. Baum's wife, Amber. They also filled bins full of personal items to send to soldiers stills serving in Iraq. It all means so much to Dana Baum and her family.

"What is so important is the message that the students are sending," said Baum. "That message is that there are people who care and there are people who are thinking about the ones making the sacrifices."

The morning before the basketball game Sgt. Ryan Baum's first child was born. He was supposed to be at his daughter's birth. Baum was killed one day before he was scheduled to go on leave. Leia Ryan Baum weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces.

She was born in Gettysburg, Penn., where she's staying with her parents. Her grandma says she is perfect.

"There are glimmers of joy today but a lot of sadness too," said Baum. "I was just so sad that Ryan wasn't here for Leia and for Amber, but it was also joyful to have the baby; it's just a rollercoaster. I am living minute to minute right now."

The final score of the game was 55 to 46. The teachers won.

Everyone at the game agreed that didn't matter. They say through a friend's loss they are learning more about what really matters most.