To celebrate and honor those who have served in the military this Veterans Day, the fourth graders in Ruth Moorman’s class at Smith Middle School in Vandalia, Ohio, penned letters to Veteran patients at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. 

Ashley Faun, a volunteer coordinator at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, came up with the idea for her daughter’s class and asked Moorman if they would like to help honor the patients. With visitor restrictions and protocols because of the pandemic, the care teams at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton have had to come up with different ways to serve patients and ensure they are receiving superior care and superior services. 

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are being forced to think outside the box,” Faun said. “It is still so important to make sure that our Veterans know they are appreciated, important and respected.” 

The class wrote more than 20 letters to patients. The letters included handwritten messages of thanks to Veterans for their service, as well as color drawings of soldiers. 

“We were excited about doing something for the Veterans,” Moorman said. “The kids really enjoyed writing the letters. We will be having a Veterans Day assembly here at school on Wednesday, Nov. 11, during which we will honor local Veterans.” 

For most Veterans, the letters they received during their tour of duty were special and precious. “Receiving mail from loved ones made most Veterans’ tours of duty a little easier and represented the most meaningful connection to those they left behind,” said Bob Allen, American Pride coordinator at Ohio’s Hospice. 

The staff at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton will give the letters to Veteran patients on Veterans Day. They also will put a few letters on bulletin boards for others to view. 

“Each of our Veterans who receive these letters will be touched as deeply as if they were to receive mail during their tour of duty,” Allen said. “Our thanks go out to these wonderful students, and to their teachers who educate and support them well.” 

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is honored and privileged to serve Veterans in its care. Through the American Pride® Veteran Care by Ohio’s Hospice program, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton honors the service of Veteran patients and assures them of receiving the highest quality of care. In addition to celebrating and thanking Veterans for their service, American Pride assists patients in obtaining access to all the benefits to which Veterans are eligible, provides spiritual support, and addresses individual post-traumatic stress issues. 

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, is a not-for-profit hospice provider. Since 1978, it has served patients and families in the Dayton region in their homes, extended care and assisted living facilities, and the Hospice House location in Dayton. Grief support services are available to the entire community through the Pathways of Hope Grief Counseling Center. Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton serves more than 1,000 patients and families daily, achieving national recognition for innovative services and outstanding care.