Hundreds of veterans will soon receive holiday cards filled with uplifting and appreciative messages from students at Daviess County Public Schools, and this year’s batch of cards is especially creative.
It’s an annual tradition for DCPS students at all grade levels to personalize cards that are delivered to the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson.
This year, Daviess County High School Choir Director Candy Miller thought of a way to make the cards even more unique. Using funds typically reserved for other choir-related activities, Miller instead purchased cards with a recording chip.
“I told my students we can’t perform our art form in the way we traditionally do, but we can certainly brighten up the life of someone during the holiday by sending them a greeting,” she said. “I got the cards in the hands of my students, and they were allowed 30 seconds of recording time. I told them to be creative, sing a song, play an instrument, or just record a voice message to thank the veterans for their service or say Merry Christmas or read a poem, and then decorate the card.”
While she thought it was a neat project, Miller said she really didn’t realize the impact it was going to have on her or the students.
“Every time I received one back at school during the last week, I opened it and it brought tears to my eyes,” she said. “They’ve taken their time and done a great job and put their heart into it.”
The cards also have a big impact on the veterans, according to James Kincheloe, board member of Rolling Thunder KY Chapter 1.
Kincheloe helps organize the event each year, making sure the cards are delivered to the Veterans Center.
“They just love Christmas cards coming in,” he said. “The smiles on their face … some of them don’t have family and this is the only joy they get throughout the year. Others, they just wait for it.”
Kincheloe said DCPS students outdid themselves this year.
“We’re going to hand those to the veterans this weekend and it’ll be a great joy.” he said. “Santa Claus will be down there, but he can’t go in. That’s another reason why these Christmas cards are so important. People can’t go in and visit these gentlemen.”
