Veteran Pen Pal Project Finishes10th year!

The Veteran Pen Pal project concludes its 10th year of introducing students from Hamden schools to local veterans through handwritten letters exchanged every 4-6 weeks. 

During the last few weeks of May, these Pen Pals had the opportunity to have lunch together and spend quality time not only with each other but also with the entire class. 

Sharing stories about what they learned from each other and the realization that they had much in common was significant. Handwriting has a considerable impact on reading and writing skills beyond just the time and effort it requires. 

Many students found that reading the letters, some written in cursive, and then answering the questions asked and then writing down their thoughts helped them articulate their own questions and answers differently than when using their computers and texts. This process made structuring sentences and spelling more important. 

Students were curious about why these volunteers enlisted immediately after graduating from high school and which experiences transformed them. Veterans shared with the class the importance of Memorial Day and emphasized how crucial it is to take a moment to reflect on our fortunate freedoms and conveniences. 

Are you a veteran, or do you know a veteran who would enjoy writing to students? We would love to have you join us as we continue to support this program and hope to expand the opportunity to more students and local veterans.  Please reach out to Cherie Strucaly at cstrucaly@aoascc.org to find out more.