Third-graders in Dana Fenio and Jennifer McClelland’s classes at Mars Area Elementary will join in a presentation on the U.S. Navy’s decommissioned USS Mars combat stores ship at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.

Navy serviceman Rick Smith (via Zoom) will discuss the history of the ship, which was named after Mars Borough; its decommissioning; and the ship’s bell, which was donated to the borough in 2006. The bell remains on display along Pittsburgh Street near the Mars Spaceship.

When Fenio was a fifth-grader at Mars Area, her then social studies teacher Peg Harding asked students to write Christmas cards to the men and women serving  aboard the USS Mars. Fenio was among several students to receive a response, which came from Rick Smith.

At 11 a.m., the students will write letters that will be delivered to deployed servicemen and women through Operation Gratitude. In addition, at 1:30 p.m., fifth-graders in Fenio’s class will make paracord “survival” bracelets to be distributed through Operation Gratitude.

For more information, visit www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/anywhere/paracords/.