Valentines For Veterans

Five Strawtown Elementary School students brought dozens of handmade Valentine’s Day cards and letters to Rockland County veterans on Thursday morning.  They shared Valentine’s Day thoughts and heartfelt thanks with about 50 veterans from around the county.  The students took turns reading some of the cards out loud and then hand delivered them to the veterans.

Strawtown Principal Deirdra O’Connor said the delivery of Valentine’s Day cards is an annual tradition for the pupils. She said students in all the grades made cards and the older students wrote letters. Fifth graders Dora Teising and Austin Hernandez, fourth grader Grace Nunes, third grader Lily Warren, and second grader Sean Clinton said they were excited to be giving the cards to the veterans.  

Some of the writings the children shared were: 

“Your services make a big difference.
I would especially like to thank you for your bravery.
I would also like to thank you for saving our country.”

Fifth grade teacher Elise Krinsky said her students, Teising and Hernandez, were reading their letters and some from other students as well. First and second grade Teaching Assistant Dina Cannavale helped with organizing the event, which took place at State Senator David Carlucci’s Veteran’s Advisory Committee Meeting in Suffern.

Among the many veterans at the program was Frank Morea of Congers, who turns 100 in June. Teising was excited to present a Valentine’s Day card to the World War II Veteran, who served in the Pacific from March 1942 to December 1945.