Some of the larger items made by students in the Karns City and Moniteau school districts that could not be mailed to veterans will be displayed at local American Legions.Submitted photoS

What makes a hero you may ask?

Not a man with a cape and mask

But a person with a heart of pure gold

Who risks their lives in the bitter cold

Rain or shine, Day or night

They will not tremble before a fight

Military, air force and Navy SEALS, too

All fight for the colors red, white and blue

Generals and privates give the command,

“We will fight to free our land.”

Some wounds were very serious

And some just wouldn't mend,

So they faced their pain with courage

Until the very end.

Veterans you are heroes

and you saved so many lives

So many thank you greatly

For saving their children and wives

— Haylie, Karns City eighth-grader

Brenda Knoll read some of the submissions with a beaming smile.And some while blinking away tears.Knoll, the Karns City High School principal, and John Stoughton, the athletic director at Moniteau High School, teamed up recently to gather handmade cards and other items to send to area veterans for Memorial Day.“We wanted to make sure these veterans were not forgotten,” Stoughton said. “Two (Dassa McKinney Elementary School) teachers — Kim McBryar and Chad Dillon — really helped put it all together.”Stoughton and everyone involved in the project feared veterans would be lost in the shuffle because of the coronavirus pandemic that has canceled so many traditional events in and around Butler County.Including Memorial Day festivities.So, Stoughton, Knoll and others went to work getting names and addresses of all members of the local Legions in West Sunbury, Chicora and East Brady.Next, they got the word out that they would accept creations from the Moniteau and Karns City school districts for the project.Things such as cards, paintings, poems — anything to lift the spirits of the veterans on Memorial Day.The response was overwhelming, Stoughton said.“We sent out 505 letters and cards and poems to veterans,” Stoughton said.Most were local.Some, however, were scattered around the country.“We mailed things to veterans in Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and even Alaska,” Stoughton said.Lesson learnedI may not know the name of who will be receiving this, but please know that you have done so much for us and our country and you deserve so much.— Elizabeth,Karns City eighth-graderWhen eighth-grade social studies teacher Jacob Bishop found out about the plan to send greetings to veterans for Memorial Day, he altered his online lesson plans.Usually, he caps off the school year with lessons on Memorial Day.This year — a most unusual one, he said — he moved up his teachings about the day, so his students could craft their cards and poems to be mailed.“We got the kids involved,” Bishop said. “When I begin each year to talk about Memorial Day, I ask everyone in the class to raise their hand if they know a veteran. Everyone does. Everyone knows a veteran in Western Pennsylvania.”This year was no exception.While the veterans students in Bishop's class know fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, he teaches the origins of Memorial Day, which began as “Decoration Day” to honor the 620,000 who perished in the Civil War.About 640,000 soldiers have died in all the other wars combined.“Memorial Day, we honor the dead,” Bishop said. “Veterans Day, we honor the living.“It's hard to grasp the death toll of 620,000,” Bishop added. “So, I explain it by saying you can fill the stands at a Penguins' game 33 times. That's how many died.The students in his class, Bishop said, are honoring both the living and the dead with their cards, letters, poems and drawings.“It's great because some vets may be stuck at home alone with no one able to visit them,” Bishop said. “If they get a letter or something from these students, maybe it will brighten their day and make them know they haven't been forgotten.”Kids get creativeI want to thank every single veteran there is, for the ones that have passed, and for the ones still fighting in this country. I care about you and that I feel blessed for everything you do.— Evan, Moniteau eighth-graderSome items collected couldn't be mailed.One student crafted a painting of the iconic raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima.Another made a giant cross with the American flag painted on it out of metal.Yet another etched a silhouette of a little girl looking up at a soldier into a piece of plywood with the words “Land of the free because of the brave” painted between them.Both Knoll and Stoughton were struck by the creativity of the students.“It was really amazing what they came up with,” Knoll said.Because those extra-large items couldn't be mailed to veterans, Knoll came up with another plan.“We're going to take them to the local Legions, so they can display the artwork,” Knoll said.Knoll said it was important to everyone involved to do this and she was pleased with how many responded.“In a small community, Memorial Day is a big deal,” Knoll said. “These veterans deserve to be honored and remembered.”

Drawings, like the one above, made by students in the Karns City and Moniteau school districts were sent to Butler County veterans for Memorial Day. Students from the two schools crafted 505 letters, poems and cards.