Valentines For Vets Making Connections

American Legion District Commander Darrin Alderson (left) and Blake Herny (right) pose with a challenge coin sent by Lt. Colonel Tanya Hildebrand.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Several white tables stretched down the hallway at Penn Central Mall on Wednesday afternoon. People of all ages sat down and started creating their own works of art to share with veterans on Valentines Day.

The program, now in its second year, has grown from last year.

Last year, a Valentine found its way to Lt. Colonel Tanya Hildebrand. Hildebrand then sent a challenge coin back to the American Legion post in Oskaloosa, but at the time, they weren’t quite sure of the youngster’s full name since they didn’t put last names on the Valentines.

The mystery was solved this year, and District Commander Darrin Alderson was able to present Blake Herny with Hildebrand’s challenge coin.

Besides the challenge coin, Hildebrand also sent along a card, thanking Herny.

Alderson said last year’s cards, approximately 300, were sent to active duty service members and local veterans, with the remaining being sent to the veterans home in Marshalltown.

The plan is do something similar this year with the cards.

Alderson said programs like the Valentines for Veterans help to build community and provide support for each other.

Penn Central Mall manager Mike Gipple said that the Valentines for Veterans program came to their attention a few years ago, “It’s just a great way to give to veterans at a time of the year that, a lot of times, we don’t think about veterans.”

Veterans Day, Memorial Day are among those we traditionally associate with thinking about our veterans, “but we feel you should honor veterans twelve months out of the year,” added Gipple.

Gipple was “extremely pleased with our community stepping up and seeing the value of this.”