Military appreciates students' support

WESTFALL — Students and staff at Delaware Valley Elementary School (DVES) continue to receive letters of appreciation for a project that they were proud to be a part of. At the end of last school year, everyone at DVES was asked to save infant and children’s shoes, which they may have outgrown and no longer needed. This fall, they brought in dozens of pairs of shoes as part of an shoe collection drive organized through TV 13 news anchor Marie Johns, which was immediately and wholeheartedly embraced by DVES Principal Kim Butaitis. The shoes were picked up by Johns, accompanied by a delegation of Army personnel who visited regional schools this past fall. Each DVES student and staff member who participated later received a surprise folder in the mail, containing certificates, thank you letters from the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, medals, badges, and other gifts and salutes from the United States Army Freedom Team. Most recently, a letter and a beautiful certificate from the United States Department of Defense was sent to the school recognizing DVES for support of the men and women who serve American in the National Guard and Reserve. While rewards were not expected and were certainly not the reason for supporting this outstanding project, the students and staff of DVES are proud to be included and recognized as a school that supports its military and servicemen and women.