Summit Academy Secondary School – Akron students delved into their hearts to pen sentiments of gratitude to local military veterans. By way of handmade Veterans Day cards, those messages are landing in the hands of about 60 military veterans at a special November 11 ceremony in their honor at the Gables of Green assisted living and memory care community.
“I get a little choked up every time I read them,” says Angie Carman, volunteer coordinator for Traditions Health in Akron, which provides hospice and palliative care to residents at the Gables of Green and beyond. Carman shared excerpts from some of the cards ….
‘Thank you for fighting for our freedom. Every soul that went to war is never going to be forgotten in our hearts …’
‘I want to thank you for all the hard work and all the blood, sweat and tears you have used. I also want to thank you for your service in helping us through all the hard times we suffered as a country. You have made this world a better place.’
Akron Secondary recently formed a partnership with Traditions, which serves residents at the Gables of Green and other care facilities as well as patients living at home.
IEP Coordinator Sarah Pavis says that through their outreach to veterans and others receiving care from Traditions Health, students are working toward earning 60 required hours of community service. Service hours aside, the act of giving to others, Pavis hopes, will have a profound and lasting impact on the students.
“I am a huge supporter of helping the students see a world outside of their own, and to support them in having a willingness and desire to help others. It is very important for me to support the students in participating in community outreach.” Pavis says.
Pavis adds that she looks forward to engaging Akron Secondary students in more charitable work through Traditions Health and other service agencies throughout the school year.
The students’ outreach to the military veterans, some of whom received their cards early, proved to be an excellent starting point.
“Our veterans felt very special in receiving these handmade cards and the messages were so very heartwarming. Their appreciation was overflowing for all the hard work that was put into making them,” Carman says. “I look forward to many more projects with the school.”