TAHLEQUAH, OK – Cherokee Nation leaders delivered valentines to veterans at the Mige Glory veterans housing addition near the W. W. Keeler Tribal Complex last week.
“It’s always an honor to take a moment to recognize our Cherokee veterans,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We appreciate the service and sacrifice of these incredible individuals. It means a lot to share a conversation and give something thoughtful back to our veterans.”
Each year, the Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs receives thousands of handmade valentines through its Valentines for Veterans program. Veterans throughout the reservation are delivered handmade valentines from various volunteers.
“We are always looking for ways to honor our Cherokee warriors and all veterans throughout the year,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “Valentines are just one more small way to show we care. Thank you to everyone who helped provide the thousands of valentines cards we received this year for veterans.”
This year, the Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs received more than 6,000 valentines from schools, community organizations, health centers, at-large Cherokee citizens and individuals from within and outside the Cherokee Nation reservation. Cherokee Nation employees also showed appreciation for veterans with an influx of valentines from within the workforce.
Along with providing valentines to veterans at the Mige Glory veterans housing addition in Tahlequah and to veterans who visited the tribe’s veterans center, cards were also delivered to veterans’ centers across the reservation, including the Jack C. Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Muskogee.
“Most of the wonderful volunteers don’t personally know these veterans – they do this just to show appreciation for our Cherokee warriors,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs S. Joe Crittenden, a U.S. Navy veteran. “We deeply appreciate the service of our veterans. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with our veterans at Mige Glory. These wonderful people have their own community but it’s nice to come say thank you. This program is small in the grand scheme, but our veterans deserve the recognition.”
The Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs received valentines from across the country to provide to veterans.
“I’m honored to be visited,” said Jimmie Ralph, a Cherokee veteran. “It was a nice surprise to have everyone stop by and visit with me and my wife for a moment. Thank you to everyone who made these valentines.”
The Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs also hosted a valentines banquet for veterans providing guests with fun, food and fellowship at the tribe’s veterans center in Tahlequah.