Curtis A Smith Post 1033 Auxiliary reached out to some local youth this year to help with the Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center’s Valentines for Veterans project. It is a great way for youth to learn about community outreach and, at the same time, honor the men and women who have given, and continue to give, so much to our great nation.
Two of these faces are familiar to some of you as they were part of our project last year. Sisters Carlie and Colleonia Lockhart are becoming pros. They are excited to be a part of honoring our veterans and we are excited to have them. The girls, along with Kinley Weiford, are all students at Callaghan Elementary. Peyton Cales is only two but she was happy to be a part of it all.
First Christian Church youth group, directed by youth leader Jessica Freeman. When asked about the group’s involvement with this project, Mrs. Freeman said, “First Christian Church youth are excited to be a part of serving those who served us. It is an honor to share God’s love through cards and prayers. As a teacher, I appreciate any opportunity that teaches kids to value others just like Jesus did. We look forward to more opportunities in the future”.
The Center provided us some information on how the Valentines for Veterans project was started. “Jiggs” Hall from Clifton Forge was a frequent visitor to the Alleghany Arts and Crafts Center and, when he transitioned to the Salem VA, we missed him– a lot. About the same time, Debrena Gordon’s husband, John, was with the Army Reserve and deployed to Iraq around 2009. Debrena was our Shop Manager – Administrative Assistant and she knew of a Valentine Program in Maryland that was doing a program so a few of us set out to “make a bunch of Valentines to add to their stash”. The next year we decided to send them to local Veterans (including Jiggs, of course) and so the VA facility in Salem seemed like a good idea. And, so it began.
Thanks to Bill and Mott Atherholt we quickly learned that the two local VFW posts were a GREAT source for names and addresses. Of course, in a small town everyone knows someone who is or has been a service member, including some who are not VFW members. With churches, school children and, of course, folks like you participating we made up kits of supplies to share with others who want to recognize our Veterans. When we run out of addresses we take the rest to the VA in Salem for their residents – and it’s usually at least 100!
The auxiliary is proud to be a part of this great program. Thank you Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center for all you do for our community. Thanks to Cathy Drummer, Judy Scott, Betsy Carter and Nancy Newhard at the Center for all their hard work with this program.
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