Military Helicopters Give Paramus Students Hands-On Experience, Chance To Say Thank You

PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's not every day students get to witness military helicopters landing on their school lawn, but at one Paramus school students got an up close look -- and got to say thank you to troops.

CBS2's Andrea Grymes was in Bergen County where the helicopters landed in a field next to East Brook Middle School.

The students got a tour of the choppers and actually got to sit at the controls.

"It was cool cause you saw all the buttons they actually use there," said fifth-grader Abigail Ohlendorf.

The helicopters are called MH 60 Sierras, essentially the Navy's version of a Blackhawk. A person would need two years of training to even fly one.

Port Jefferson, Long Island native Lt. Diane Sebastiano is one of the pilots.

"I hope they get excited. Being in the navy wasn't something I grew up knowing."

The event is part of Fleet Week and also organized by the Paramus non-profit Operation Goody Bag.

Operation Goody Bag is where young volunteers send bags with notes and treats to troops and first responders all over the world.

"I want to be able to give back to the people who have sacrificed so much for our country," said Angela Zisa, Operation Goody Bag Volunteer.

The organization put together 5,000 bags on Thursday night alone and another 1,200 last week.

Jane Cosco, Operation Goody Bag Executive Director, said, "We've got a big shipment going to the USS Theorodre Roosevelt which should cover one bag per sailor and marine on that ship."

But students in Paramus were just happy to say thank you -- in person.

Paula Schuck, a Garfield resident and army wife, said "we're so used to moving - we've lived all around the world and to come back home and see this, it means a lot."