About 30 students showed up to hand write and decorate cards to be sent to members of the American military.
Advertised through a flier with the slogan “Lets give our thanks to those serving,” the Cards for Soldiers event paid tribute to American soldiers by sending them holiday themed “Thank You” cards which will be sent to the A Million Thanks organization.
The event was held Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in Jefferson Hall on East Green.
The cards will be disbursed to the soldiers by A Million Thanks. About 30 students showed up at the event to hand write and decorate the cards, many of them making more than one.
"With anything you do, it's always good to have support, and the coolest kinds of thank yous are the ones that come from people you don't know," said Sarah Stier, a freshman who attended the event.
The student who organized the event said she could not speak to The Post and did not give her name.
Other students came out because the thought of putting smiles on the faces of troops who are away for the holidays hit close to home. Sophomores Becca Kleinen and Evan Schultz, who made several cards, know that feeling better than others.
“My whole family is military and when they or a friend of theirs gets cards like this, it really makes their day, it makes a huge difference … you'd be surprised,” Kleinen said.
“My friend is stationed in Afghanistan right now and I know how hard it is over there,” Schultz added. “I just want them to feel appreciated.”
The materials to make the cards included crayons, colored pencils, markers, and different kinds of cards that ranged from plain pastel colored ones to floral print and glitter designs. Most students decorated their cards with festive colors, like green and red, with Christmas tree drawings. One student even embraced the spontaneity (playfulness) and drew a dinosaur with quirky messages attached.
“I just think its cool to support the troops, and I figured not many people would show up, but its pretty amazing that this many did,” said Cassie Huber, a freshman.
Some of the attendees who attended to show their support for American soldiers were international students.
“Even though I'm not from here, I'm here in support for the people who are out there fighting for their country and also to raise awareness for this kind of support,” said Orhan Mentese, a junior who is also a Resident Assistant in Jefferson Hall.
Mentese gathered a group of five of his residents to attend the Cards for Soldiers event, one of whom was Joe Meyer.
“I'm here to show the support for someone I don't know, and who doesn’t know me, but that is fighting for something and is doing something that I can't imagine doing myself,” said Meyer, a freshman.
Exactly when the cards will arrive in the hands of soldiers is unknown, but they are to be postmarked no later than Dec. 1 so hopefully, they can arrive before Christmas.
fc973614@ohio.edu
