West Mifflin Area High School seniors deliver Valentines to veterans

The cards from West Mifflin Area High School contain messages to honor their service.

West Mifflin Area High School students are giving back to those who served our country this Valentine’s Day by participating in an annual Valentines for Veterans event.

Members of the Student Secretaries Club, a school organization since 1961 open only to seniors, passed out blank cards for students this past week to write messages for local veterans. Club members delivered the cards Thursday to Pittsburgh’s VA Medical Center.

High school social studies teacher John Moritz, who has been with the district for 29 years and has served as club sponsor for 20 years, explained that the concept of the club is for seniors to use their free periods to help teachers and others in need.

“I just have always had a high respect for the military,” Moritz said. “I never served myself or anything like that, and I felt that this was a group that should be in contact with the older generation. I think that it benefits both, where I think sometimes when you get a little bit older, and sometimes you don’t think that people remember your sacrifice.”

The club started the card project about 10 years ago. The seniors encourage the student body to write personal cards for the veterans. Any extra cards from the VA medical center are sent overseas to military personnel in active duty to bring a bit of joy for the holiday, Moritz said. They make around 200 to 300 cards, and sometimes they cannot give one to every veteran, but they try to.

For students unsure what to write, there is a list of prompts they can choose from to write on the cards, including, “Sending appreciation and warm Valentine wishes to a true hero,” “On this Valentine’s Day, we honor not only your service but also the love you’ve shown for your country and citizens. Thank you for your

bravery,” and more.

The medical center used to host a party for the holiday, but stopped since the pandemic. The hospital is run by veterans, which makes a strong impact on students, according to Moritz.

Moritz said it is “very fulfilling” for the students to deliver the cards to the veterans. Even some pre-K students make Valentines.

“Over the years, there have been some moments that have impacted the students,” Moritz said. “At the very least, they’re happy to make people happy, and I think they like the idea that they’ve helped and served and helped those people. Some students were really, really touched by this.”

Club President Hailee Goonetilleke tried to get everyone at the lunch period where she passed out cards to make Valentines.

“I kind of joined student secretaries because one of my friends last year recommended it to me, and not a lot of people sign up for the smaller events,” said club member Oliver Eager. “I like to be a part of the club as much as I can, and I do this to help out. (Delivering) is going to be really fun.”

Club members Samantha Tomko and Sarah Jakub said they are very close with families that served in the military, and wanted to help out people like them.

“Both my uncles were veterans that fought in Iraq,” Jakub said. “My uncle definitely goes to the VA. He was honorably discharged with a Purple Heart and everything, and he meant a lot to me.”

Moritz added that it is important for students to do this project because they are bringing two communities together. The veterans very much appreciate it, he said, and they enjoy talking to the students.

“Just sometimes having that kind word, and letting them know that the younger generation still knows about them is very important. One of the things that I tell the students when I propose this is that is the very least we can do for people that have served our country, the very least,” he added. “Their sacrifice to us has been unpayable.”