By ROGER ANAYA, Post Commander

Members of the VFW Post 8874 and the Ladies Auxiliary, the Military Order of the Cooties and their Auxiliary, the Patriot Guard Riders, Paws and Stripes, the Blue Star Moms, the American Women Riders, and Santa Fe Harley Davidson visited the Albuquerque Veterans Hospital Feb. 17. 

As part of the Valentines for Vets program, we distributed many amenities to our hospitalized veterans in the spinal cord injury ward. 

This could not have been possible without the generous contributions of many in our community. We wish to express our deepest appreciation to these supporters for their devotion, thoughtfulness and charity.

Santa Fe Harley Davidson donated $500 in Harley Davidson tee shirts (a veteran favorite); the Patriot Guard Riders hand-made 20 lap blankets, baked goodies for the nursing staff and contributed boxes of additional supplies; Paws and Stripes brought a therapy dog that was a big hit with the veterans; the Blue Star Moms brought tee shirts; the American Women Riders brought tube socks; and doctors McDonald and Lewis donated all of the requested dental supplies.

These generous donations allowed us (the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary) to purchase $100 dollars in Canteen Books (for commissary supplies), in addition to numerous other supplies and toiletries.

All together, we were able to give cash and supplies totaling more than $2,500.

These amenities were over and above the purpose of our visit – to distribute Valentine cards. Several of the above mentioned groups brought Valentine cards to add to the collection that the Los Alamos school children had created.

These cards were one of the most appreciated items received by our veterans. We wish to express our gratitude to the children of Los Alamos, as well as the parents and teachers who encouraged the children to participate in this worthy program.

The gifts, donations and time invested reflect the devotion and kindheartedness of the people and businesses of our connected communities.