Valentines For Troops Project Earns

A Special Stamp Of Approval

By Eliza Hallabeck

The local initiative to send valentines to troops overseas earned a special stamp last week in Hartford when project coordinator Donna Monteleone Randle, Reed Intermediate Assistant Principal Anthony Salvatore, and Newtown’s state Representative Chris Lyddy brought the project before the Connecticut General Assembly.

Dr Salvatore and Ms Randle were there to present the town’s St Valentine’s Day Project, also known as Valentines For Our Troops, in hopes that the program that began five years ago in Newtown schools can become a statewide project. The Newtown project has grown from 50 cards and letters sent in January 2006 to 2,500 letters and cards mailed this year to the troops.

“Our soldiers need to know that we care about them and their well-being,” said Rep Lyddy by email last week. “There are many ways we can accomplish that goal, and Newtown’s Valentines For Our Troops program certainly does just that, and in fact serves as a model for communities across Connecticut. All those involved should be commended for their efforts. This program exemplifies all that is good about our community.”

 Rep Lyddy, who hosted the Newtowners on Wednesday, October 28, said many legislators were present last Tuesday when the project went before the state’s legislature.

“People are not only amazed by the success of what Newtown has accomplished, they are inspired,” Rep Lyddy said. “This year our goal is to plant the seed and hopefully over the next two years we can have the program implemented in a number of communities. I am happy to help and assist these efforts in any way that I am able.”

This week Ms Randle said the project had a positive response from the state’s legislature.

“I could not have asked for better,” said Ms Randle. “We are looking forward to doing really good things.”

Dr Salvatore spoke on behalf of the project’s educational benefit, according to Ms Randle.

“When he was polling all the educational benefits,” Ms Randle said, including connecting and empathizing, “he inspired me.”

While excited for the attention the project received last week, Ms Randle said work in town is progressing to make the upcoming St Valentine’s Day Project the largest yet in Newtown.

“We look forward to everyone and everybody who wants to participate,” said Ms Randle.

As part of the 2010 project, Reed Intermediate School music teacher Michelle Tenenbaum, who oversaw the creation of a CD of Reed Intermediate School students singing for the troops this year, will also be accepting interested Newtown students from other schools who would like to participate in a new CD recording for military personnel. Anyone interested can contact Ms Tenenbaum at tenenbaumm@newtown.k12.ct.us.

Ms Randle said like every year, she is still looking for names of military personnel overseas to whom to send cards. The names of groups of troops would be most welcome for inclusion in the project too, she said.

The kickoff for students involved in the 2010 St Valentine’s Day Project is scheduled to happen at Reed Intermediate School on Thursday, January 4.

Next Thursday, November 12, according to Ms Randle, a recap meeting will be held at Reed Intermediate School at 1:30 pm, for members of the public to hear the presentation that was made before the Connecticut General Assembly.

To submit names of military personnel serving overseas, contact Ms Randle at ndrandle@charter.net or at 203-364-9772.