Vernon Students Keep Up Tradition Of Writing Letters To Veterans

VERNON, CT — Students in the Vernon public school system this week kept the up the Veterans Day tradition of sending cards and letters to those in the state who served their country.

And for the second straight year, students at Maple Street School made the most cards per student in the system and took the Superintendent's Challenge Trophy.

In all, local students made 1,750 cards and Maple Street, the smallest school in the system, made 296.

"It helps commemorate and understand what the veterans did for us and it's also important to honor that," Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said.

Making the most card was Amanda Davila, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student at Maple Street.

"I Just wanted the veterans to see we appreciated them," she said.

Maple Street principal Joshua Egan said the project is, " a bright spot in what has been a very difficult year-and-a-half. State Rep. Michael Winkler added that many veterans are lonely, especially those at long-term care facilities.

The students were joined by several veterans — Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne (Army National Guard), state Rep. Tim Ackert (Air Force), Tammy Salminin (Navy) and Donald Butler (Air Force and Disabled American Veterans local commander).

"When I saw the cards, I knew you understand," Champagne told the students. "These cards will put a smile on Veterans' faces, just like they put a smile on my face."