by Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel, 376th AEW Public Affairs

3/28/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Every year, hundreds of thousands of people arrive and depart through the Transit Center at Manas, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, in the passenger holds of military and commercial aircraft. However, this particular visitor came in through the mail.

With this visitor, a letter of introduction from a 1st-grade student named Aliyah addressed to her Aunt Mindy; asking her to take care of the visitor, show him around, take photos and write about his adventures. Aunt Mindy is Staff Sgt. Mindy Winans, 376th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron, and the special visitor is Flat Stanley.

“My first thought when I was told it was coming was 'what's a Flat Stanley?" said Sergeant Winans. "Then when the envelope arrived and I opened it up I thought 'oh, so that's Flat Stanley! This looks like fun!”

And it has been fun for many people since 1995, when a grade school teacher from Ontario, Canada, began the Flat Stanley Project based on a book of the same name by Jeff Brown. After reading the book about a young boy named Stanley who is accidentally squished "flat as a pancake," elementary students have been creating their own Flat Stanleys to send to friends and family around the world.

Upon arriving at the Transit Center, Flat Stanley has been spotted participating in a number of Transit Center activities including flying a KC-135 Stratotanker refuel mission, riding with cargo on a forklift and interacting with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who pass through here on their way to and from Afghanistan.

Flat Stanley also made an appearance with the students of School-complex "Evrika" in Birdik Village, who gathered together to take a photo with Stanley which has been sent to Aliyah and her classmates of Herbert Akins Elementary in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., with hopes of establishing contact with students in America.

Many members of the Transit Center have recognized Flat Stanley on sight recalling their own particular Stanley experiences.

"Since my arrival four-and-a-half months ago, the medical group has been visited by three 'Flat Stanleys,' and each time our hospital doors are opened wide to welcome him," said Col. Sharon Bannister, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group commander. "Flat Stanley, ranging from life size to the size of my hand, has been in our operating room, dental chair, patient treatment room and even in an ambulance."

"As a mom of an 8 and a 10-year-old girl, I applaud our Airmen for sending a part of what we do here home to their children and classmates," Colonel Bannister said.

In fact, Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Weinert, the 376th EMDG's superintendant, who upon seeing Flat Stanley realized what connection it had to him.

"Hey my sister just told me about that," said Sergeant Weinert. "My nephew Zack just happens to have Flat Stanley and she is sending it over here for a visit."

As of this publication, while Uncle Tom is waiting for his visitor to arrive, Aunt Mindy has put hers safely back in the envelope and into the mail on his way home to Aliyah in North Carolina.

Go to www.flatstanley.com to learn more information on the Flat Stanley Project.