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Valentines for Vets shows county's heart for veterans

Pharos-Tribune - 2/15/2023

Feb. 15—Leland Gossett laid back in his recliner, his legs propped up with a pillow, and listened to the noise from his television. He paid little attention to the show that was playing; he only wanted the TV on to interrupt the quiet of his room in Woodbridge Health Campus, and he let Dawn Fisher know it as he handed her the remote and instructed her to turn the volume down.

Gossett's room was the first stop on Fisher's list, which was carefully handwritten by a staff member on a small piece of lined notebook paper. Fisher used the list to navigate Woodbridge's long hallways as she pushed a cart loaded with heart-covered bags.

The bags were filled with a variety of valentines written by local students, clubs, volunteer groups and many others throughout the community. The bag's destinations: the veterans living in Cass County's nursing homes and assisted care facilities.

"Valentine's Day can be a lonely day if you've outlived your sweetheart," Fisher told the Pharos-Tribune in January. "I didn't want anybody to feel like they were alone. I wanted them to know that we care and there are people out there that appreciate their service."

Fisher, who is the owner and president of Fisher Funeral Chapel, has organized Valentine's for Vets for the last 21 years as a way to honor local veterans and thank them for their service.

"It just feels good (for them) to know that kids out there care," she said.

Virginia Crimmins, who served as a medical technician in the Army, met her first husband John when they were both in the Army together. Crimmins' husbands have passed away, but she keeps a photos of them on her wall beside her clock.

Crimmins was surprised when Fisher entered her room and presented her with her bag.

"It's a whole bag of valentines from school children and groups all over the county," Fisher told Crimmins. "... There's a lot of love in that bag. A lot of people who don't even know you want to say thank you for your service."

Crimmins said it means a lot that people took the time to make her valentines. She sat the bag beside her recliner so she could read the cards later that afternoon.

"I've always loved Valentine's Day because a lot of people call me and tell me 'Happy Valentine's Day' and that they love me," she said. "This is just very nice."

The valentines ranged from store bought roses with sweet messages inside to construction paper hearts filled in with red, white and blue. One of Gossett's valentines from an elementary school student simply stated, "I love you."

Some of Fisher's contributions to the bags, excluding the bags themselves, were packets of Hersey Kisses. She told Gossett she wanted everyone to have a kiss on Valentine's Day.

"Now, you don't have to tell Norma I brought you the kisses," Fisher told Gossett. Norma is Gossett's wife. "When Norma comes, you say, 'Honey, I have some kisses for you,' and you can hand them to her."

"Oh, I could add a bow," Gossett replied. "That would be satisfactory."

Some groups made more than valentines for the vets. One elementary school class made triangular plaques of construction paper, silvery star stickers and red and white streamers. Fisher hung those on the veterans' doors for them. Another group made small, colorful pillow hearts attached to notes.

"We made a little pillow heart for you," Fisher read to Gossett. "This little heart was made just for you. Slip it in your pocket or purse, or wherever you choose. Use it as a reminder that you'll always have a friend who cares. Wherever you are, wherever you go, wherever life leads you, there's always someone out there thinking of you."

Gossett picked up the yellow cloth heart, which was a bit smaller than the palm of his hand, and analyzed it.

"Isn't that cute?" he asked. "I'll be daggone, that is nice."

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(c)2023 the Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Ind.)

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