MLK Jr. Nat’l Day of Service: Honoring Vets With Valentines

There’s a special vibe that fills a room full of creative, caring folks, even more so when they’re crafting for a great cause: one honoring both United States service members and the late Martin Luther King Jr.

This past MLK Jr. National Day of Service in January, that unique energy—a blend of joy and reflection, infused with appreciation and, for those who’ve lost a beloved veteran, even grief—was very present when people of all ages gathered to participate in Camp Fire Central Oregon’s annual Valentine’s Day for Veterans event.

This year’s outreach opportunity packed the “house,” the basement of The Bend Church, drawing approximately 100 community volunteers, including youth from Camp Fire’s No School Day Camp (NSDC), plus one incredible Teen Connects volunteer who came to help set up, manage supplies, and clean up along with Camp Fire staff.

People picked out card-making materials from a bevy of supplies, then put their focus on creating the homemade cards, each with its own artistic flair and personable messaging. In just 2.5 hours, volunteers, including 25 NSDC kids made a record 322 cards while chatting with friends, family and community members, nourishing established relationships and brand-new connections with others.

As in years past, Camp Fire invited a U.S. Veteran to speak to the crowd. This year’s guest speaker was Anne Graham*, a Vietnam veteran who, as a young man, served in the U. S. Navy on a nuclear submarine and is the author of “Tall Annie: A Life in Two Genders.” Graham, who transitioned her gender almost three decades ago, was joined by her husband of 21 years, a third-generation veteran. They both took turns speaking about their experiences in service and how Vietnam veterans, despite great sacrifice, have been ridiculed by many people for their service during the controversial war. In addition, Graham expressed the importance of appreciating veterans for their sacrifices and contributions in meaningful ways, asking the crowd of card-makers to be conscientious about what they wrote to the veterans who would receive the Valentines.

“Sometimes we put ourselves in harm’s way to defend our country,” she said. “And that’s one of the reasons it’s going to be nice for them to receive these cards. I hope you won’t just say ‘thank you for your service’ because we hear that all the time. It would be nice if you could write something a little more heartfelt: ‘thank you for the sacrifice you made.’ ‘My father…my grandfather…my cousin are service people, and they’ve told me about it, and I know that you’ve really sacrificed for our country.’ If you come up with something like that, it’s going to be much more meaningful.”

Graham shared short stories about her experience on nuclear submarines, the value of a military career, and the significance of various service hats, emblems and patches that many of today’s older U.S. veterans proudly wear.

Taking in the significance of Graham’s message and honoring U.S. veterans were three returning volunteers: Jessie, a mom, and her two boys, Zach and Luke. For the third year in a row, they’ve come to Valentine’s for Vets to make cards and pay tribute to MLK Jr. in this special way. When asked about their “why,” Jessie opened up and shared her two-fold reason for volunteering on this day:

“My uncle was a Marine, my grandfathers were Marines, my husband’s grandfathers were in the military, and none of them are with us anymore,” said Jessie, tears quickly filling her eyes. “It’s just special to come and help those (veterans) who are with us and help them feel special. Sometimes, I don’t think they have that feeling of pride or gratitude from us, but I wish they did.”

Also, Jessie added, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to instill a time of service (in our kids) and what Martin Luther King Jr did for our country. We talked about it on the way over here … what a great opportunity to honor him, a man who served our country so well … we are very happy to be here and thank people who have served our country.”

Per tradition, next year’s Valentine’s for Veterans will take place on MLK Jr. Day, and the entire community is invited to mark their calendars for Monday, January 19, saving the date for this incredibly heartwarming event. Camp Fire Central Oregon would like to express gratitude to Connect Central Oregon for providing its online portal, promotions, and for facilitating volunteer sign-ups, and to The Bend Church for opening its doors to all people wishing to engage around this signature Camp Fire event.

*To learn more about Tall Annie, please visit Anne Graham’s website.
See more fun event pictures below!