By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Each year, preschool and elementary educators celebrate Read Across America Day on the birthday of Dr. Seuss (March 2), with reading related events on or around that designated day.
For Dusty Carroll, father to two, this year provided opportunities to make up for time away from sons Nick, 7, and Tyler, 6, while Carroll served three one-year stints with the Army’s 4th ID unit. Carroll was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.
“He missed a lot,” wife Carrie Carroll said.
He made up for some of that time in grand fashion when Read Across America Day was celebrated this year. Carroll went to Glencoe Elementary School to read to students there, and came to Susan’s Daycare in Rainbow City to read children there.
“I like to do this any chance I get,” Carroll said. “I’ve missed like a whole two years of their lives,” Carroll said of his sons, and he enjoys being a part of their school activities now that he has the chance.
Judging by their reactions, the children at Susan’s Daycare enjoyed Carroll’s visit, too. They heard Carroll read “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat,” employing a variety of unusual voices for his delivery.
Daycare Director Susan Desindes said it was a treat for the children to hear from a guest reader and to receive a visit from a soldier.