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Hearts reach out to disabled veterans

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  To the casual observer, the simple design of the butcher paper poster appeared to be something one might see on any elementary school classroom wall during a parent teacher conference.

But a closer look tells a different story.

In the center of the poster is a hand printed note: "Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for loving your country enough to be willing to lay your life down for it. We are proud to be Americans." Mrs. Campbell's 1st Grade, D.D. Kirkland Elementary. Yet another bright red poster reads: "Because of you our world is a safe place! You are appreciated and thought of often!"

Hand colored, construction paper hearts adorn the posters. Many were colored as American Flags but each bears a personal "thank you" from its maker.

"You keep us safe." - Anna
"You are awesome." Jack
"Thanks." - Noel
"I love you." Johnny
"Thank you for my freedom." - Eddie

The posters and several others were delivered along with more than 850 personalized Valentine's Day cards to the Norman, Oklahoma Veterans Center on Friday. The 507th Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve, along with four area schools partnered up to celebrate veterans from the Norman, Okla., Veterans Center this Valentine's Day.  This marks the seventh consecutive year the 507th ARW has partnered with local schools to bring Valentines for Vets to the center's approximately 300 residents.

This year, students from Central and Surrey Hills Elementary Schools in Yukon, Okla., along with students from D.D. Kirkland Elementary and Putnam City High School in the Putnam City, Okla., school district produced more than 850 personalized St. Valentine's Day messages. "Since 2006, I've had the privilege and honor of organizing and helping students produce more than 6,550 Valentine cards for our nation's heroes," said Bill Pierce, principal of Kirkland Elementary and a major with the 507th ARW.

"For my students, it's been a great learning opportunity and a meaningful way to give back to these men and women that have sacrificed so much," said Pierce.