Park Elementary School in Munhall Spreads Cheer to Hospitalized Veterans

Friday, February 15, 2002 - Munhall, Pennsylvania - U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) spoke to approximately 100 students from the 5th grade classes at Park Elementary School in Munhall in recognition of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) 13th Annual "Valentines for Veterans" program.

"Since September 11th, Americans of all ages have been expressing American patriotism in a variety of forms," stated Doyle. "Today, the 5th grade class at Park Elementary is doing their part to remember the men and women in our country who have protected our lives and our freedoms in years past."

For more than the past decade, millions of children and adults have opened their hearts to American hospitalized veterans by sending cards and letters through the "Valentines for Veterans" program. This program has been timed to coincide with Valentine's Day because the sentiments of caring that are shared on Valentines Day match the military salute's purpose of expressing honor and appreciation.

"Words cannot describe the heartfelt effect that a child's expression of gratitude on a Valentines' Day card can have on our hospitalized veterans," stated Rep. Doyle. "The freedom and peace that we have today are a direct result of the sacrifices made by our nation's veterans. This program reminds us to pay tribute to veterans and all they went through and all they had to endure."

The students presented Rep. Doyle with the Valentines Day cards that they made for the local hospitalized veterans. Rep. Doyle, who attended the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans at the University Drive VA Medical Center later that day, delivered the students' valentines to the hospitalized veterans.

Every day, approximately 187,000 veterans are treated in VA medical facilities across the United States. Locally, approximately 72 veterans receive treatment, at any given time, from the three VA Medical Centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These men and women served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, and all the places where our soldiers have been sent around the world.

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