Contributing writer Bonnie Cranmer
On Monday, Nov. 11, McCleary Elementary children will welcome veterans for “Bring a Veteran to Lunch Day.” This is an ongoing effort to bring attention to the sacrifice and service veterans have provided to the public.
The entire school has been involved in the project. Grades K through 5 have been working on thank you cards for local veterans. From the original 75 on a list provided by the Craig Valley VFW, the recipients have grown to 175 veterans living in or from Craig County. “This week, our students worked on thank you cards for our local veterans. This is an annual project that involves the students learning about veterans, and then making cards which are then mailed to all veterans in or from Craig County,” said Karen Jones, McCleary Elementary School Librarian. “We are always looking for the names of veterans we may have missed,” Jones continued.
At this year’s Roanoke Veterans Day parade, the Craig Valley VFW is again participating with a float, a recreation of last year’s Battle of Iwo Jima. The dedication and commitment to honor our veterans and educate the public about their sacrifice continues on Monday, November 11. The parade route begins at 11 a.m. at the Roanoke City Market Building and winds through downtown. Get there early and thank a veteran personally, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Many of the Craig Valley VFW members will be on hand to honor the day.
Veterans Day is a national holiday, with federal offices closed. Virginia is home to over 690,000 veterans representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast
Guard and National Guard. “Veterans and their family members are an essential part of Virginia’s workforce including Virginia businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that benefit immensely from their education and training, leadership skills, and dedication to mission completion,” stated Governor Glenn Youngkin in his 2023 proclamation for Veterans Day. “As we reflect upon the enormous contributions made to our country and Commonwealth by our veterans, we also pay tribute to those who are currently serving in our Armed Forces at home and abroad and who remain committed to sustaining this legacy of unyielding patriotism,” Youngkin concluded.
Contact Karen Jones at McCleary Elementary School to add a veteran to their list for cards, kjones@craig.k12.va.us. Special thanks goes to the Craig Valley Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) for covering the postage cost for the project.
