To the White House and back: Flat Stanley travels from Marietta to visit the President

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Now that they're third-graders, some of the students at Marietta's A.L. Burruss Elementary School had forgotten about a class project from the spring.

In April, Avis Franklin-Grant's second-grade class decided to write a letter to President Obama. And with that letter, they sent a colorful friend dressed in red, white and blue: Flat Stanley.

Stanley Lambchop, the main character of the Flat Stanley children's books penned by the late Jeff Brown, is a little boy flattened by a falling bulletin board. In the original 1964 tale, Stanley finds that being flat has its advantages. For example, he's easy to mail and can travel just about anywhere to visit friends.

More than three decades later in 1995, the Flat Stanley Project began. It's a lesson in letter writing used by teachers and students all over the world. Children can create their own "Stanleys," mail them to family and friends, and ask that Stanley be returned safely. Sometimes, Stanleys have been known to be returned with photos documenting the visit.

After reading the book, Franklin-Grant's class mailed off their letter and Flat Stanley to the president.  They knew he was busy and a response could take some time, if it came at all.

"He didn't have the time to look at it at first," said student Louis Constantinides. "And he needed time to think about what to write back."

Summer came and went, and a new school year began. Then, the large manila envelope arrived. Return address: The White House.

"I was so excited," teacher Franklin-Grant said. "I told them we were going to reach for higher heights, and we made it."

The students received a detailed letter explaining where their Flat Stanley had visited, a picture of the president and a picture of Bo, the Obamas' dog. But most importantly, their Flat Stanley was returned. He has a small coffee stain, Franklin-Grant said, but he's otherwise fine.

"I was happy to have him join me in my daily activities," wrote the President in his letter. "In the morning, he walked with me through the halls of the West Wing and joined me for meetings in the Oval Office with my senior staff and many guests."

Flat Stanley also visited the South Lawn and said hello to Sasha and Malia Obama, the President stated.

The students, and their teacher, are still in shock. Among the reactions:

"It's so cool!"

"Wow!"

"We got a letter from the president!"

It's the type of lesson the students couldn't have gotten in a classroom, Franklin-Grant says. She has made a copy of the letter for each student. But she plans to frame the original, along with Flat Stanley, to keep in the classroom.

Flat Stanley is hardly a stranger at the White House. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were known to host Stanleys sent in by schoolchildren, a practice that has continued under Obama. The White House did not return requests on the number of Stanleys that visit yearly.

Though it took a little while to get Flat Stanley back to Cobb County, the students say it was worth the wait.

"He doesn't have a lot of time," explained Kendre Dillard. "He's the president, you know."