"Thank you for risking your life for my freedom. May God bless you all."

Six years ago the first group of heart warming valentine messages, like this one, flowed into the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Head Office from Canadians all across the country. As part of the "Valentines for Vets" project initiated by syndicated newspaper columnist Ann Landers, these tokens of remembrance and gratitude brought smiles to the faces of veterans all across our nation.

Each year, Ann Landers encourages her readers to create special valentines for veterans in care facilities throughout the United States and Canada. This year, Landers' special "Valentines for Vets" column appeared January 6, 2002, again inviting readers to send valentines to Veterans Affairs Canada's Head Office in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Valentines will be sorted and repackaged for distribution to veterans in care facilities where VAC has departmental and contract beds, in time for Valentine's Day.

Last year's program saw more than 3,600 valentines distributed. Many of the valentine greetings and heartfelt thanks were submitted by teachers and children in classrooms from coast to coast to coast, "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to thank war vets for all that they have done for our country," writes a school teacher in Stratford, Ontario, "The students had a really good time creating these valentines."

In fact, thousands of Canadians took the time to create valentine messages for the veterans of Canada, "I am sending you a special Valentine wish. I want to let you know how much you are appreciated, and thought of often." And from Edmonton, Alberta, "A card made for someone special, who changed the world for the better; and for that you will always be loved, remembered, and treasured." Cards received from individual Canadians often contained personal reflections. From Blenheim, Ontario, "Every November 11th, I began my day by thanking my dad for the sacrifices he made for all of us. My father passed away thirteen years ago, however I still remember and thank those brave men and women who have risked and given their lives for us to live in peace and freedom in this great country of Canada."

Response to the "Valentines for Vets" program has been remarkable. "On every Valentine's Day, staff, volunteers and residents gather for a special afternoon tea and distribute the cards to all our residents, the response we receive from everyone is so wonderful," writes a Lifestyles and Community Services Coordinator in Victoria, British Columbia. These small tokens of valentines greeting and appreciation encourage Canadians to remember our veterans every day of the year. Each year, notes are received from care facility administrators, noting the efforts of those who take the time to send valentines to veterans are appreciated, "Please pass on our thanks to the wonderful children whose creative valentines were so well received by our veterans.... The party was extra special because of the valentines and made the veterans feel good to be remembered on a day that celebrates love."