RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Because of the efforts of Randolph Elementary School children, several hundred hospitalized veterans will get a special surprise on Valentine's Day.
As part of its annual Valentines for Veterans project, Randolph Elementary School students are making 600 Valentine's Day cards for injured and sick veterans at Audie Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital in San Antonio.
Karen Bessette, Randolph Elementary School principal, said the children make the cards as a way of saying "thank you" to the veterans who have served our country.
"It is important for our children to learn about giving to and acknowledging the sacrifices of others," Ms. Bessette said.
Once the children finished making the cards, they were sent to the 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Office. Col. Richard Clark, 12th FTW commander, Susan Gandy, 12th FTW Community Relations chief, and Team Randolph ambassadors, Airman 1st Class Vikas Kumar and Airman 1st Class Jennifer Booth, will hand out the cards to the veterans when they visit the hospital on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.
Recently, first-graders in Evie Cutcliff's homeroom class were hard at work cutting out shapes and designs for their Valentine cards, which contained words of encouragement and best wishes for the veterans.
Ms. Cutcliff said Valentine's Day is the perfect time for everyone to remember our veterans.
"Valentine's Day is a day for love, caring and sharing," she said. "We remind the children that they should spread that love, caring and sharing around because there are some veterans who do not get anything on Valentine's Day. The children are always excited to do something for the veterans. We always hear how the veterans treasure the cards and are happy to get them."
Ms. Cutcliff said the children in her class can relate to the experiences veterans go through because their parents are servicemembers or retired military.
The children in Ms. Cutcliff's class had a variety of reasons as to why they sent Valentine's cards to the veterans.
Ethan Bell, 7, said he made a card so the veteran who gets it "can feel better, be happy and not sad" on Valentine's Day.
Sitting at the same table as Ethan was Claire LaMantia, 6, who wanted to let the veterans who read her card to know that they will not be forgotten on Valentine's Day.
"I am making a Valentine's card so that the veterans will not be lonely or sad," Claire said.
Bianca Velez, 6, said she wrote another message for the veterans on her card.
"I thanked them for saving us and our country," Bianca said.
While busy working on her card, Isabelle LaCross, 6, had one simple message she wanted to share with the veterans in her card.
"I want them to have a happy Valentine's Day," she said.
Ms. Bessette said she liked the variety, creativity and workmanship the children put into making the cards.
"I am very proud of them," she said.