Valentines For Troops Finale Thanks All Involved

By Eliza Hallabeck

This year’s Valentines For Troops effort came to an official close on Tuesday, April 24, when a finale event was held to recognize those who helped the program.

“It doesn’t matter what day it is,” said Valentines For Troops Chairperson Donna Monteleone Randle, near the end of the event, held in the Newtown High School cafetorium. “They love to hear from you.”

The annual effort to send valentines and care packages to troops serving overseas would not be possible without the help of many people, said Ms Randle.

The finale was originally planned for February, but was rescheduled

Each year, volunteers with the Valentines For Troops effort work to find and list addresses of deployed personnel to whom to send letters and care packages, and later work to help proofread and pack the letters written by students and care packages for shipment overseas, to places like Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, and to ships at sea. The program is primarily focused on student-written letters, but groups of all ages are encouraged yearly to join the effort.

Many people were recognized during the event for their involvement, commitment, and support of the Valentines For Troops effort, including Jennifer Peterson, who Ms Randle explained oversees a list of servicemen and women to receive the letters and care packages.

“She does amazing things,” said Ms Randle about Ms Peterson, “and the first thing she does every time is say a prayer over each name.”

Ms Peterson said her effort with Valentines For Troops is a little thing she can do to give back to those serving in the military.

The Valentines For Troops effort began in 2006 when 50 letters were sent out from Sandy Hook School to troops.

“This year we had over 5,000 letters written,” said Ms Randle, “and that is only in Newtown.”

The effort also expanded to other states this year, including Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin, as local groups learned about the program online.

A slideshow presentation was shown to share photos of Newtown groups, groups from surrounding towns, the groups from other states, and the service personnel who responded to the letters.

First Selectman Pat Llodra, Newtown resident Command Sergeant Major Arthur Fredericks, and Newtown resident Mae Schmidle were some of the speakers during the event.

Both Mrs Llodra and Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson were recognized for their support and involvement during the program.

Oxford First Selectman George Temple, a former member of the Navy, presented Dr Robinson with a remembrance letter signed by the commander of the USS Carl Vinson.

As both the daughter and wife of former carrier pilots, Dr Robinson said she is proud to do something to support the men and women serving now.

The Valentines For Troops effort, Dr Robinson said, is a powerful project for the students to participate in.

One attendee was caught off guard during the event when Bethel resident and State Representative Dan Carter (R-District 2) oversaw the surprise recognition of Margaret Brokaw, who served from 1942 to 1945 in Europe as an army nurse. Rep Carter oversaw the honorary promotion of Mrs Brokaw to the status of a captain, and he later presented her with a formal citation — signed by himself, State Representative DebraLee Hovey, State Representative Christopher Lyddy, and State Senator John McKinney — from the Connecticut General Assembly recognizing her service.

Video of Mrs Brokaw receiving recognition at the Valentines For Troops event is available with this story at www.newtownbee.com.

Charter 21, Community Vision, also filmed the event, and it is scheduled to air on May 7 at noon and 4:30 pm and on May 14 at noon and 4:30 pm.