Peninsula Students Hand Make 7,200 Cards For Local Veterans

SAN MATEO, CA — Peninsula veterans received an extra dose of love on Friday, in the form of thousands of handmade Valentine's Day cards. The cards were made special by elementary school students across 52 schools on the Peninsula.

The influx of cards — approximately 7,200 of them — were part of a project organized by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) with support from Nancy Magee, Superintendent of the San Mateo County Office of Education, according to Speier's office. They were hand-delivered on Friday to the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

"Looking a veteran in the eyes, handing him a bag of valentine treats, and thanking him or her for the service to our country is a profound and humbling experience," Rep. Speier said. "This year, my office received a record number of cards from a record number of schools. It’s heartwarming to see how much our students care about our brave servicemembers who risk their lives to defend our democracy and our freedom. Their empathy gives me hope for the future."

Speier said she was inspired to start the "Valentines for Vets" program in this congressional district after reading about a newspaper columnist who had encouraged a similar outreach.

Some of the messages from the students include:

• “Thank you for always defending our nation. Your actions have inspired hundreds of others who aspire to reach the level of dedication that you have shown. Have a good Valentine’s Day!”
• “Thank you for serving and protecting this beautiful and diverse country! I aspire to be as brave and challenging as you.”
• “I recognize, appreciate and honor you for keeping our country safe. Thank you!”

Happy Valentine's Day to all!