Pen-pals enjoy their first meeting

A relationship forged through pen-pal letter writing has developed into a true friendship for a New Milford 6-year-old and a sailor in the United States Navy.

Luke Christos, 6, of New Milford, recently met his pen pal, Jamie Hunt, OSSN, also a New Milford resident, for the first time.

The local youngster was at home due to the Veterans Day observance and was treated to a surprise visit from Hunt.

The Navy man had just returned home from nine months' service

in the Middle East aboard the aircraft

carrier USS Enterprise.

Hunt gifted Luke with a baseball cap from the U.S. Navy during their happy get-together, according to Luke's mother, Dana Christos.

Luke is in first grade at Northville School, where Hunt also attended as a youth.

The Enterprise, also known as Big E, was decommissioned Dec. 1 at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, where Hunt is now stationed.

He is the son of Donald and Michelle Hunt and a 2010 graduate of New Milford High School. His grandfather, Donald Hunt Sr., also was in the Navy, which inspired him to enlist in the service.