Christmas Cards to U.S. Armed Forces
Bluff View students
send Christmas cards to
service men and women
By Ted Pennekamp
All of the grades at Bluff View Intermediate School in Prairie du Chien have gotten into the Christmas Spirit and will be helping to brighten the day for hundreds of service men and women around the globe this Christmas.
Bluff View students recently mailed 415 Christmas cards to Camp Courage in the state of Oregon.
“Camp Courage is a group of United States Marine Corps moms who send cards to everywhere in the world that they’re needed,” explained Tracy Moravits-Feye of the Middle School Intervention Center. Moravits-Feye helped organize the card project with seventh-grade language arts teacher Michelle Kirchman.
Moravits-Feye said that the second through fourth graders made their own cards, and second through eighth grade participated.
The cards were sent to “Dear Soldier” or “Dear Hero” and the teachers at Bluff View gave the younger students prompts as to what to talk about such as the bravery and sacrifices of the cards’ recipients.
Some upper level Spanish students wrote cards in Spanish to be sent to Spanish speaking service men and women, of which there are many, said Moravits-Feye.
“The students were very enthusiastic,” said Moravits-Feye in noting that the Christmas card project sprang from the Veterans Day program. “The students are really touched by the Veterans Day program,” she said.
The Veterans Day program and the Christmas card project are special for Moravits-Feye and Kirchman, who both have sons who are active duty Marines. Jack Feye, who is stationed in North Carolina, is home for the Christmas holiday this year. Brant Zeeh is stationed in Japan.
“It’s very close to our hearts,” said Moravits-Feye.