Local 4-Her thanks veterans for service with ‘Stars, Stripes and Smiles’ project
Sarah Flint, Executive Secretary of the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown, is pictured with Kenley Juillerat and some of the Stars, Stripes and Smiles buckets that were distributed at the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown. (Submitted photos)
For her Hands to Larger Service Leadership 4-H project, Kenley Juillerat from Premier Showmen Club chose to organize an effort to thank veterans for their service themed around the Fourth of July. With the help of local supporters and her Premier Showmen 4-H Club, 150 “Stars, Stripes and Smiles Thank You for Your Service” goodie buckets and 100 goodie bags were assembled.
The red, white and blue buckets contained items such as lotions, ChapSticks, bubbles, beach balls, snacks, soaps, stickers and cards and were distributed to veterans who have served. Over 75 buckets were disbursed to residents at the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown, 20 buckets were delivered to veterans at the Highland County Senior Citizens, 25 buckets are going to Mowrystown American Legion Post, one large bucket of goodies was delivered to Hillsboro Lowe’s and the remaining buckets are being disbursed at the Highland County Veterans Affairs office.
One hundred red goodie bags are dedicated to servicemen and are filled with lots of snacks, drinks, stickers and “thank you for your service” cards. They are being donated to local serviceman Matt Kelly's 14th Marine Regiment 4th MarDiv unit. On July 12, this unit will be going to Camp Lejeune for a two-week training. One hundred servicemen will meet in Cincinnati and have a 12-hour bus ride. They will be able to enjoy their goodies and thank-you cards and know many are supporting their efforts.
Juillerat would like to thank her mentors for this project: Lynette Hamilton, Premier Showmen 4-H adviser, and Steph Roland with the Highland County Veterans Affairs Service Office.
"The youth of our club showed incredible heart and patriotism through the Stars, Stripes, and Smiles project — coming together to support our troops and veterans with care, compassion and a whole lot of pride in their community," Hamilton said. "Through her dedication and leadership, Kenley has done an amazing job guiding our club in the Stars, Stripes, and Smiles project. Her passion inspired not only our youth but also brought the community together in a powerful show of support for our troops and veterans."
"When a teenager asks you to assist with their endeavor to give back to the military veterans in your community, you really stop what you’re doing and let them share their plan,” Roland said. “Miss Kenley not only had a plan, but was ready to put her boots on the ground and run with it, and she sure did, and in a very short time frame surpassed her original goal of being able to bless a hundred or so veterans and service members with her Stars, Stripes & Smiles buckets and bags.”
Juillerat would also like to give a big thank-you to the following supporters for their monetary donation and donation of snacks and other items: Modern Woodmen of America, First State Bank, Merchants National Bank, Jerry Haag Motors, Save A Warrior, Mowrystown American Legion Post 0694, Hillsboro VFW Auxiliary Post 9094, Support Our Troops Highland County and members of Premier Showmen 4-H Club.
Appreciation
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