Peyton Manning runs into kindergarten classmate on USO tour

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning seems to be having a special time on his USO trip overseas to visit service members who are stationed far away from family and friends. Manning, along with Buccaneers receiver Vincent Jackson and free-agent receiver Austin Collie (and the Cowboys cheerleaders!), have been visiting bases in Afghanistan, lending support to the troops and tossing around the old football.

And Manning has been keeping a journal for ESPN.com, which has turned up some fascinating anecdotes. My favorite has to be Manning running into an old kindergarten classmate and recognizing him almost instantly.

From Manning:

“In the mass of troops, I was meeting and shaking hands and had one soldier say to me, ‘Good seeing you again, Peyton.' I looked at him for a second, and said, ‘Edmund Barnes? From Mrs. Silverstein's kindergarten class at Newman?' He nodded, and we had a good reunion. I recognized him because I do have a good memory on things like that, but I actually have a picture of this class in my closet in Denver. I see it often, and Edmund looks the exact same. He is a captain in the Marines, and it was awesome and a proud feeling to see him.”

Very cool, right?

Anyway, check out the lengthy piece from Manning. It's a good read.

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