MILFORD –When advisory program coordinator Shannan Carlson learned that VFW Post #7788 was conducting a letter-writing campaign for servicemen/women overseas, she believed the project could easily be brought forth to the middle and high schools as an activity for the advisory period in December. One of the goals of the new Advisory program (underway since September for all Milford students in Grades 6-12), is to foster meaningful connections between students and responsible adults in the community. The program also urges students to ‘look beyond themselves’ in all things.

That said, when Carlson heard of the VFW’s project, she believed it was a perfect fit with the advisory program. Jonathan Law Asst. Principal Robert Swan also embraced the idea and, together with Carlson, quickly put together a lesson place for the activity. The plan was presented and discussed with faculty members and administrators and, during the first few weeks of December, every middle school and high school student in Milford wrote a letter to someone overseas serving our country.

Every student received an outline to help prepare them for the type of letter to write, along with some suggested topics to use. Students were encouraged to write to a soldier they may already know who is serving overseas, but if students didn’t have anyone specific with whom to correspond – they could simply write a letter to any soldier as a message of thanks.

On Friday, December 16, a total of 3,068 letters were presented to VFW #7788 Post Commander Robert Paddock and VFW #7788 Ladies Auxiliary President Nancy Paddock. ‘Hugs From Home’ founder and chairperson Alicia Haley was also on hand to accept the mounds of correspondence from the students. The trio brought the letters back to the VFW Post in order to prepare them for delivery in time for the holidays to the troops.

“This was a great exercise – for everyone involved,” commented Bob Swan. “We believe our students benefitted from thinking about fellow Americans serving our country far from home. We believe our local VFW post benefitted from partnering with the school district on this wonderful project. And, the best part, we believe our troops will benefit from knowing there are thousands of us here who appreciate their efforts overseas. It truly was a ‘win-win’!”