Lincoln Avenue Elementary School fourth grader Tyler Smith was excited to be on camera, but he knew the real importance of a visit by Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland) to his school Monday morning.
"It’s going to be cool because we’re going to be on the news," Smith said. "The veterans are going to be really happy when they get these."
Smith pointed to the Valentines that were made at 22 Rockland County Schools, including Lincoln Avenue, to be sent to soldiers stationed overseas. Over 500 Valentinues were collected. Carlucci came to the school to help Smith and some of his classmates pack them into boxes for shipping.
"This is a program we coordinated with elementary schools around the county to help them think about how on this special day, when we have the opportunity to be with our loved ones, we have our bravest young men and women putting their lives on the line to rpotect our freedom," Carlucci said. "We want to make sure they know, our men and women in the military service, that we are thinking of them here and our children here know they are over there serving us.
"Some kids were really creative and created some nice pieces that our brave men and women will really appreciate."
"When Senator Carlucci’s office contacted us about this, absolutely," Lincoln Avenue principal Kathleenan Cool said. "A lot of our kids enjoy doing that. We try to instill in them pride in their country and respect. This is a way for them to give back."
Fourth graders Sean O'Connor, Isabella Callan and Amelia Bohen joined Smith, Carlucci and teacher Karen Di Menna in packing up the Valentines. The students had all taken part in making them.
"I wanted to do this because the soldiers deserve Valentines for all the things they do for us," O'Connor said.
"It was really fun," Callan said.
"We had a lot of fun," Bohen said. "We typed our Valentines online os we could do a lot of things. It's important because they have to get love around Valentine's Day."
The following schools contributed Valentines:
Margetts Elementary School
Kakiat Elementary School
Summit Park Elementary School
North Garnerville Elementary School
Stony Point Elementary School
Thiells Elementary School
George W. Miller Elementary School
High View Elementary School School
Liberty Elementary School Upper
Nyack School Valley Cottage School
Evans Park School
Franklin Avenue School
Lincoln Avenue Elementary School
Cherry Lane Elementary School
Richard P. Connor Elementary School
Sloatsburg Elementary School
Viola Elementary School
Bardonia Elementary School
Congers Elementary School
Lakewood Elementary School
Laurel Plains Elementary School
Link Elementary School
Little Tor Elementary School
