In a year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the ongoing commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian War Museum have launched the annual Valentines for Veterans program.
The program delivers homemade cards of gratitude to thousands of veterans at the long term care facilities across Canada for their wartime service.
“It’s really important because not only does it give acknowledgement to people who have served this country in various different capacities, but it brings out that sense of pride, the sense of gratitude, and allows us to acknowledge that part of our history and for those people not to be forgotten,” says Jennifer Balasevicius, program interpreter at the Canadian War Museum.
The initiative began in 1989 when the late newspaper columnist, Ann Landers, encouraged her readers to make valentine cards for veterans in the care facilities throughout Canada and the United States. Veterans Affairs Canada has been receiving and distributing these cards to the veterans across Canada since the federal department became involved in 1996.
The war museum has been participating for about five years now, according to Britt Braaten, a learning specialist at the museum. “It brings joy and gives visitors the opportunity to show their gratitude in a way that is from the heart,” Braaten said.
Former lieutenant-colonel Pierre Sénécal, a Cold War veteran who volunteers at the museum, says that Valentine’s Day is even more special for him because it’s the day his second daughter was born. He says that the cards are appreciated and that the ones from children are especially touching.
“I think it’s a good idea. Valentine’s Day is a special day to a lot of people . . . It would be nice to receive something like this and (know) that someone is thinking about us,” Sénécal said.
Families are the main group that come into the museum to visit and create the cards, according to Braaten. She says that many of them appreciate this platform for showing the veterans they care and that it has become a tradition to go to the museum and make the cards every year.
Gabriel Gaudreau did not know of the museum’s involvement, but thought that it was a good way for the museum to be involved.
“I didn’t even know about it. It was a just a Sunday afternoon activity coming down to the museum. It’s pretty good and I know it makes (veterans) happy,” Gaudreau says.
Gaudreau’s daughter, Julianne, 9, was making a card with her sister. It has become a tradition for her to produce them every year. She has been creating the cards since she was four years old. “I think it’s fun and very nice for us to make them because it’s very kind to do and it will encourage others,” she says.
According to Balasevicius, most of the children, even the younger ones, know what a war veteran is and this is a pleasant surprise.
“It’s nice to know that kids, that this new generation, that people have not forgotten, that people are still teaching their kids the value of this,” Balasevicius says. She added that she is more than willing to explain when a kid does not understand.
The War Museum has themes that relate to the Valentines for Vets program in its exhibits, too. “It brings to light this idea of commemoration, of remembering, of having that tie with our past and that’s part of what the museum does. It ties in with a lot of the themes of the museum,” Balasevicius says.
The museum’s craft table provides a variety of arts and crafts tools for the visitors. Everyone gets the chance to make a card from construction paper, decorate it, write a message and sign their name. According to Braaten, the museum sends between 500 to 700 valentines each year.
The museum will have its craft table open every weekend in the lobby until Feb. 14 to give visitors the chance to show their appreciation for veterans.