To thank and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who have served and served in times of war, conflict and peace, the London Public Library is calling on the community to take part in the National Valentines for Veterans initiative.
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“It’s really a North American movement that was started in the late 80s by Ann Landers,” explained Ellen Hobbin, marketing and communications manager for the London Public Library. “Then Veterans Affairs Canada took it over, I think in the late ’90s, and they were coordinating it across Canada.”
Although Landers, a newspaper columnist, died in 2002, Veterans Affairs said it was “committed to continuing its project of thanking veterans.”
Each year, the Foundation invites schools, individuals and organizations across Canada to create Valentines for Veterinarians, which are then distributed by February 14 to veterans in long-term care facilities across the country.
Hobin said the local library has been participating in this initiative for the past eight years.
“We’ve had really great participation from people who drop off their valentines, from classes,” he said. “We think we’ve probably sent over 8,000 valentines in that amount of time.”
According to Hobbin, those interested are invited to stop by any one of 16 library branches in London where craft supplies will be provided. Valentines are being accepted until the end of the day on Saturday.
For more information on Valentines for Veterinarians, visit Government of Canada Veterans Affairs website,
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