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Glenbard students send Valentine greetings to veterans

Roses are red, violets are blue, this Valentine's Day, Glenbard High School District 87 students are saying thank you.

The students at all four high schools spent time after classes Wednesday to write and decorate valentines from the heart for hospitalized veterans.

The teens expressed their appreciation through "Valentines for Veterans," an annual effort spearheaded by the village of Glendale Heights to send good wishes to the men and women who are spending the holiday in Illinois veterans hospitals or veterans homes.

"Thank you! For serving our country," Glenbard East senior Nazish Khan wrote in one valentine.

The tradition began in the 1990s, when Gina Thorson, then the Glendale Heights public relations coordinator, started the project after reading a newspaper story about veterans in hospitals and long-term care facilities rarely receiving mail.

Thorson died in 2012 from leukemia.

"This is our random act of kindness for Glendale Heights," Thorson told the Daily Herald in 2004. "We want to recognize these individuals and let them know they are not forgotten."

At a Glendale Heights village board meeting Thursday, Nicole Lewis, the village's human resources manager, will recognize the schools, businesses and community groups that contributed to the collection drive, coinciding with National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Month.

Then, the valentines will be shipped Friday morning.

In previous years, the village has collected upward of 5,000 cards for veterans, Lewis said.

Glenbard's Advocating Character Through Service (ACTS) Committee also provided pizza and art supplies for students to create the handmade valentines.

  Junior Ellie Nguyen makes a valentine in the Glenbard East school cafeteria in Lombard Wednesday as part of the Valentines for Veterans project. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Senior Nazish Khan writes a valentine during the Valentines for Veterans project in the cafeteria at Glenbard East High School in Lombard Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  A valentine is being made by senior Nazish Khan during the Valentines for Veterans project in the cafeteria at Glenbard East High School in Lombard Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Students at Glenbard East High School participate in the Valentines for Vets group project in the school cafeteria in Lombard Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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