The Shadow
Dear Editor,
Time flies when you’re making more than 460 Valentines for Vets! This is the 12th year for the project, whose goal is to thank all those from the Alleghany Highlands who serve or have served in the US military, National Guard, or Reserve. The late “Jiggs” Hall, one of our favorite regular visitors, was greatly missed when he transitioned to the VA in Salem. We wanted to let him know he was remembered. About the same time, Debrena Gordon was our Administrative Assistant; her husband John was deployed with his Army Reserve Unit in Iraq. She introduced us to a similar program out of Maryland and things just sort of grew from there. Gradually we realized we wanted to mail a “thank you for your service, Veteran valentines” to as many of our local Vets as possible. We now keep a running list. If you know someone who is serving, or has served and might appreciate a handmade Valentine, please let us know that name and address! The Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center provides much of the material and postage, is This was our twelfth year to prepare and distributing it to anyone who wanted to help in the effort. It is a great way to teach youngsters about the important services of these men and women–and it’s also loads of fun.
This year Cathy Drummer, Karen Brown, Judy Scott, and Nancy Newhard prepared over 40 bags of supplies for making the cards. Each had enough directions, paper, glue, stickers, other fun bits,and envelopes to make 10 Valentines. We have a lot of help to keep our lists current from VFW Post 1033 in Covington, and Post 4299 in Clifton Forge. Marian Paxton organized a group from the Post 1033 Auxiliary to make and mail more than 6 dozen Valentines, supplying much of their own materials. Others responsible for the creation included the women of Edgemont Presbyterian Church, Megan McHenry and some students from Alleghany High School, students at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, students at Callaghan Elementary School and several Arts & Crafts Center volunteers. Robin Givens delivered Valentines to the VA in Salem. We also had help from the Virginian Review, the Bath Recorder and Bruce Young at WDBJ-7 as well as the Center’s social media in publicizing the event. We are indeed fortunate to live in a community where almost everyone knows someone who has served and will help. You can help too. Not all service members belong to organized groups, so if you know someone who serves or has served and would like to be included in this project, get their name and address to us at the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center. If you’d like make Valentines for Vets for next year, just let us know. There’s real sense of accomplishment as you cut, paste, write simple messages, and stuff the envelopes. Valentines beyond those mailed to service members from Highlands are delivered to VA Residents in Salem for distribution there. For many it may be the only Valentine they get.
Each year the program spreads a bit more. Last year The Center was thrilled helped a Franklin County school organize a similar program there. Most years we get feedback from several recipients. They come by the AHACC, call or send word though the community grape vine or stop one of us on the street to let us know how much they appreciate the effort. Although most cards are signed only with a first name for safety reasons, we can do some tracing when that becomes important, as it did this year. We had a wonderful letter from one of the recipients, addressed to the student who made his valentine. Responding in care of the Center, this thoughtful gentleman detailed his own life in the Navy, both growing up and as an adult, listing some of the places he’d been because of his service. It’s a letter we will be sure to forward on, interesting and encouraging to a young man who “simply” made a Valentine. What better way to know the Valentines for Vets program makes a difference?
Our thanks to everyone who helped- and to all the veterans who have served our country!
Cathy Drummer
President, Board of Directors
Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center
