Congressman Collects Holiday Cards at Bedwell School

U.S. Congressman Leonard Lance (R-District 7) on Monday stopped by classrooms and chatted with students at Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School in Bernardsville to talk about how the holiday cards they had made will be presented to U.S. troops and veterans this year.

"We are going to deliver greeting cards to the troops that the children made through the Red Cross program," Lance said at the school on Monday morning.

During the visit, Lance was accompanied by Christine Hodde of the American Red Cross New Jersey Crossroads Chapter in Summit, and held a ceremony to commend the school’s first, second and third grade students who had created cards for the annual American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

At Lance’s request, the students made holiday greeting cards for the veterans and troops, which he said afterward will be distributed both overseas and closer to home. He said those who receive the cards typically often respond with warm thanks.

During his visit, Lance and Hodde stopped in several classrooms, such as Mrs. Maddaluna's second grade class, where he spoke to the children about the program, and asked whether they were ready to celebrate the holidays.

Amy Phelan, principal at the school, said she had been contacted by the Congressman's office and the children had responded enthusaiastically to the request that they make cards. She said students were excited knowing that the cards they were making actually would reach troops.

“I commend Bedwell Elementary School students for participating in the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program,” Lance added in a news release later in the day.  “I am confident their homemade holiday greetings and well wishes will warm the hearts of our nation’s military men and women and their families.

He also commended the American Red Cross for conducting the program each holiday season. "I am proud to have also participated in this important program.”
 
According to the American Red Cross, the student’s homemade cards will be delivered to veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world. 

Lance said he and other members of Congress also have been signing cards to distribute through the program.
 
Those who would like to send a Holiday greeting to America’s military men and women and American’s veterans, can find further details at www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes.