Children pride themselves in writing and decorating
giant thank you letters.
Today we made a thank you letter for General Z.
And today we received an ‘official’ letter from General Z
with a two-star flag letterhead.
Dear Ms. Fitzkee and Aqua Roomers,
Thank you very much for inviting me to your class to celebrate Veterans Day and honor the brave men and women who serve our military.
I was very impressed that you stand and salute our Nation’s Flag, and I was especially impressed by your excellent singing of “God Bless America.” It is one of my favorite patriotic songs.
I also want to especially thank you for presenting me with a copy of the inspiring book, The Star-Spangled Banner, by Peter Spier. I know that my family and our grandchildren will enjoy reading it over and over again since it tells the story of our National Anthem and the sacrifices that were made to keep our country free.
Most of all, I enjoyed meeting each of you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Zukauskas
Major General (Retired)
Thanking a veteran is a moment.
Mail makes the moment more meaningful.
Children will remember
and have a sense of pride, connection,
and a feeling of goodness.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Both thank you letters: straight to the heart! Thank you for sharing them, Jennie.
Yes, indeed! I couldn’t wait to share them.
Love these Jennie. So nice of the children and the General to say thank you.
I’m glad you love these, John. What a great letter exchange. It was a win-win.
Yes it was.
So awesome!
Thanks!
This is so wonderful! The children will never forget this and the visitor will never forget this.
I think you are right, Beth. Thank you!
That is wonderful. I remmeber my kids classes writing letters and christmas cards to the platoon of a collegues son. They were in Iraq.
What a great thing to do! Some years ago we had a bake sale at school to raise money. Then we walked next door to CVS and purchased items for a soldier in Qatar. The manager at CVS was so moved he chipped in to add to the purchases.
That is a beautiful story
Thank you! It’s one I’ll never forget.
How wonderful that your class and the General exchanged letters. I suspect while some of the kids didn’t fully grasp the concept of a Veteran, I’m willing to bet that most of them did. Your lessons regarding respect and patriotism are likely to stay with your students, and when they witness something like this again, they will make the connection.
I think you’re right, Pete. The letters really help to ‘cement’ that connection, too.
Wonderful!
Thank you, Ritu! 🥰
How special. These are precious moments that instil feelings of pride and gratitude in young people. So nice that the General replied to the letter.
It really is so nice! I love these precious moments. Thank you, Darlene.
Hooray for both letters! Great to see the little ones learning how to send thank you letters, and I am sure they loved getting the reply from General Z.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, and yes! Today we write a giant thank you to a big, white, fluffy dog who is the library dog for reluctant readers. We read Goodnight Moon to him! There can never be too many ‘thank yous’.
Now that a great letter from the kids! Cheers to General Z.
Thanks, Frank!
I know how wonderful it feels to receive a letter like that.
Awww…yes, you do.❤️
You are an incredible influence on the children – I so wish there were more like you!!
That is so nice of you to say, GP. I’m humbled. Thank you!
That’s so cool!
😍
My heart is smiling here
I’m so glad, Annette! 😍
What a wonderful visit. He seems like the perfect representative of our Veterans. I know my daughter does this occasionally in her area of Maryland and loves seeing the children.
He really is perfect as one who represents our veterans. His wife was a kindergarten teacher, so he understands children. I’m so glad to know your daughter does this in Maryland. Thank you, Jacqui.
Letters are a dying art ..,I think it is wonderful that you encourage the children to write to people 💜
You hit the nail on the head, Willow! Sadly, it’s a dying art, yet when I take the time to handwrite a personal letter (even to famous or well known people), they always reply! Perhaps the shock at a handwritten letter makes them read it, and the personal message touches them. That is what I teach children. It’s really a wonderful thing.
Yes indeed Jennie it’s real and tangable and something to keep.💜
Yes! We call it hands-on in school. 🙂
definitly
A time they will all remember.
I hope so!
How wonderful, Jennie, for everyone. What a great visitor for Veteran’s Day. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Diana. He was wonderful!
😀 I can just imagine the children making that thank you letter, Jennie. It was great of the general to send a letter to them as well. Thanks so much for posting these. Hugs.
I think both letters made the teaching and the activity even more significant. It was wonderful! Thank you, Teagan. Hugs!
I love this. What a fun event and how cool to get a letter from General Z. Too cool for school!
Yes, and yes! Very cool. Thanks, Ally.
Thanks Jennie for sharing such lovely letters
😍
What a wonderful way to teach students gratitude and to reinforce a lesson!
I feel the same way, Jim. Thank you!
Hope all is well!
All is well. And you?
We are all doing well. I’ve just got to work on my time management skills a bit more so I can immerse myself once again in the world of blogging!
I am the worst time manager, so I understand.
I love what you did here, Jennie. Coming from a military family, we learned some of those lessons early. The thank you letters came later but somehow I learned about them and taught my children. With you starting them out so early, they have a serious advantage over most of our citizens, children and adults.
Thank you for your lovely words, Marlene. I certainly hope these children carry an appreciation throughout their lives.
This is so sweet! Jennie, I wish my grandson could be your student when he’s a little older!
Awww… that’s so nice to say, Luanne. Thank you!
😊😊😊
Jennie, both of these letters are so special!😀 It is wonderful that the children, through your work, experience the joy of sending and receiving actual physical letters – something that is sadly becoming a rarity!
I feel the same way, Annika. Physical letters are so important, yet a rarity nowadays. Many thanks!
Great thank you letters, Jennie! I also love the entrance letter. xx Michael
Thanks, Michael!
Wow, how wonderful to get a letter like that. I love getting mail, and handwritten is special. What a wonderful thing you are teaching these little ones.
Nothing beats a handwritten letter. Like you, I feel this is really important for children. And they love it!