Drennan & Ford Funeral Home and Crematory has started its ninth annual “Operation Valentine” collection program.

“Operation Valentine” is a project we organize that allows students (and teachers, parents and anyone in the community) to create a handmade Valentine card to be delivered to a U.S. veteran or active duty service person.

Support for these outstanding heroes from the public is paramount to their service and their dedication to our country. As some of the recipients of these cards may be hospitalized or in convalescent homes, their journey can be long and is often painful.

Other recipients of the cards may be actively deployed or an elderly veteran, a simple gesture of encouragement from a student will brighten their day, and children will enjoy the opportunity to correspond or share their drawings.

Regardless, the cards will be distributed to both local and regional veterans as well as active duty and reserve service people. This is an initiative that can help make a difference in the lives of these men and women, both young and old alike.

This program has been a huge success the last eight years (over 15,000 cards from local students, organizations and individuals have been collected during this time period) and has provided students and staff of many local schools an opportunity to express their thoughts and share their appreciation.

Valentines can include words of encouragement, get well sentiments, thank you for serving our country, etc. The Valentines can be in the form of cut out hearts, folded paper with a note, drawings and the like. Envelopes are not necessary. It is also requested that a return response from the veteran not be requested as the nature of their injury or illness or the status of their current service may preclude them from responding.

Currently, Drennan & Ford Funeral Home has the support of many local schools, organizations, and individuals. Drennan & Ford owners, Steve and Leah Ford will collect the valentines at the schools on February 6.

Valentines can also be brought to the Drennan & Ford office at 260 Monroe Road in Port Angeles between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Fridays through Feb. 6. Drennan & Ford will then sort and package the valentines for distribution to the veterans and service people.

For more information phone 360-457-1210, email steve@drennanford.com or www.drennanford.com or www.facebook.com/drennanfordfuneralhome.