On Dec. 1, the Westbury High School Student Council, under the leadership of Advisor Naomi Parisette, came together to write letters to veterans to thank them for their service. This is part of the Town of North Hempstead’s Veterans Drive, an annual fundraiser that the school has taken part in since 2016.

With the generous support of the Westbury community and a large donation of cards from the school’s ROTC, the Student Council earmarked $500 worth of gift cards to include with the hundreds of handwritten holiday greetings. The fundraising began with the Homecoming Dance and continues through the Santa Hat Fundraiser. It culminates with a holiday party where the cards that are to be distributed to the veterans are delivered to Rich DeMartino of the Veterans Advisory Committee and the Town of North Hempstead’s Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. An invitation has also been extended to Councilman Robert Troiano, and Town photographer Russell Lippai will capture the momentous occasion on film. A lot of time and effort goes into making the veterans “not feel forgotten, especially during the holiday season when many may be alone and without family. We feel obligated to thank them for their service and it is part of our ‘Do Good December Project’ for our Chick-fil-A Leader Academy chapter of Student Council,” Parisette said.

The letters of gratitude and remembrance honor and show love to the veterans who have sacrificed so much to serve this country. Ninth-grader Natalie Richards stated, “The veterans deserve a Christmas card to include them and [show appreciation for] their work and service … they deserve this kind of gratitude, and they will feel happy about it.” Freshman Skylar Belcher agrees. “Writing these letters really helps us to feel appreciation towards veterans … and makes them feel special.”

Everyone deserves some holiday spirit and love, especially those who have given so much to others. As President Harry Truman said, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” Through the Veterans Drive, Westbury High’s Student Council ensures that they will always be honored and remembered for their sacrifice and service.

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