Reader’s Voice: Christmas Cards for Vets: Thanks

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December 6, 2021
Dear editor;

Christmas Cards for Vets is still going after 10 years, thanks to many helpers. Diane Beukelman and Beth Peshia from Oswego Senior Center were on hand at Christmas Walk Saturday this year for the final signing of the cards that have been made into ornaments.

There are many steps for getting 774 cards to veterans homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, Quincy, Hines Blind Center, and local nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Oswego, Aurora, and Yorkville.

Friends, family, and local organizations are the key to the success of collecting the many cards needed, preparing them for cutting into ornaments, punching, and yarning them, and then getting them signed and delivered.

Thank you to this year’s long list of helpers: Oswego Senior Center, Diane Beukelman, Beth Peshia, Rhonda Jaras, Barb Hanson, and many other senior volunteers, American Legion Post 675, grandsons’ third and fifth grade teachers at Churchill Elementary, Mrs. Gentzler and Mrs. Fleagle, Oswego East High School Key Club sponsor, Patrick Sweeney, father and daughter team Dan and Madison Zarembski, Little White School Museum’s Anne Jordan, Montgomery VFW Auxiliary Post 7452 Dawn Robinson, Oswego Public Library, Boulder Hill and Oswego Antique Study Group, Waubonsee College ,Julie Olczyk, Wayda Go Chiropractic, Liz Torgerson, Mary Hession and daughter’s 4-H Silver Spurs, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, and Lego Group which won State last year; and all the signers at Christmas Walk December 3, especially the very young, thoughtful, signers.

Every one of you is needed to keep this project going. Our veterans should always know we are grateful and they are not forgotten for their service that lets us enjoy the gift of freedom all year, every year because of their sacrifice.

If you have used or new Christmas Cards to donate that are blank on the inside cover, please contact Oswego Senior Center, 630-554-5602, for a time you can drop them off.

Thank you to everyone who has made this project, started by Pat Gavros in 2011, such a success every year. May you all have a wonderful Christmas or other celebration and here’s to a peaceful New Year. As Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol said, “God Bless us, Everyone!”

Judy Siedlecki, Christmas Cards for Vets organizer, Oswego

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