In an effort organized by librarian Jo Lyn Arnold, Alexander Junior High School will send letters to the non-profit Operation Gratitude as a way to honor the nation’s 21.8 million veterans.

Every year, Operation Gratitude sends more than 150,000 individually addressed care packages to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines deployed overseas, to their children left behind and to new recruits, veterans, first responders, wounded warriors and their caregivers, according to the organization’s  mission statement. Each package contains food, hygiene products, entertainment and handmade items, as well as personal letters of support.

This year, Arnold hopes to start a yearly tradition where every student and teacher at AJH sends a letter of support to veterans with Operation Gratitude.

“It just clicked with me this past weekend, and so Monday I came in and got it together before the teachers,” Arnold said. “I sent a letter around and said, ‘Hey, let’s do this before Friday.’ Everybody was on board.”

Arnold said she got the idea from her experiences when taking her father, a Vietnam veteran, to Jackson after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Arnold said earlier this week she already had about 200 papers, and she hopes to get 200 more by today.  Arnold said it’s also a good chance for students to practice their English.

“The English classes are able to [go through] the editing process, and I’m asking the teachers to participate also.”

Wreaths Across America

The John Edwards Post 12 American Legion will be purchasing wreaths for Wreaths Across America, a group that supplies wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery and over 1,000 locations nationwide.

“The most important thing is remembering our veterans,” Rex Smith of American Legion Post 12 said. The American Legion is a not-for-profit veterans service organization made up of volunteer veterans.

According to Smith, there are also eight locations in Mississippi, including Biloxi National Cemetery, Corinth National Cemetery, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Natchez National Cemetery, Oddfellow’s Cemetery, Osyka Veterans Park & Museum, Rotten Bayou Cemetery and War Memorial Monument.

In 2014, Smith said Wreaths Across America sent out 716,000 wreaths and was able to lay a wreath at every one of Arlington National Cemetery’s graves.

Smith urged local businesses and organizations to add Wreaths Across America to their list of programs to support. He also said people wanting to buy wreaths could contact him at 601-823-1128, or send a check for $15 to 121 W. Enterprise St., Brookhaven, payable to Post 12 Commander Keith Reeves.

Smith also said that on Dec. 10 at Railroad Park there will be a ceremony of Changing Drivers, and a laying the wreath ceremony will be held at Natchez National Cemetery on Dec. 12. Both events will take place at 11 a.m.

Lincoln County Veterans Day Event

The Lincoln County Veterans Day Event will be held at the Civic Center on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. Discounts and promotions will be handed out to veterans in attendance, and there will also be door prizes drawn for during the event.

Most businesses will require proof of military service, and promotions will expire after Nov. 18. People who want to donate door prizes should bring them to the Chamber of Commerce at 230 S. Whitworth St. during business hours. Businesses who want to participate can email their promotions to Kay Burton at kay@brookhavenchamber.com.