We celebrated the Month of the MIlitary Child by highlighting several of our youngsters who have been so generous with their time… to answer my questions about life growing up in a Military Family. I remain in awe of their poise and insight as to the impact of Service and the lessons they have learned along the way. They live quietly yet proudly amongst us, each one serving in their own way!

4/25/22 was HAPPY SPRING 4 TROOPS mailing day! It was a joy to send out close to 7,000 cards of care and butterflies ( See Butterflies4smiles on facebook! Such generous hearts create beautiful butterflies, each one sure to bring a smile to its recipient!!!! They have made several thousand for us to send to our Troops, Veterans and MIlitary Families) The cards and butterflies were sent to the 82nd Airborne, those Warriors who are currently dedicated to global peace and working with the Ukrainian children and soldiers. They were also sent to USS Manchester USS Thomas Hudner, and USS Connecticut, three Navy Vessels that the Holiday Card CHallenge, in partnership with Eversource Energy CT, NH and MA, to let them know that we are thinking about them!

A phone call from US Senator Maggie Hassan led us to expand out #cards2connect Programming. 500 cards were distributed, along with warm socks, to our NH Veterans, those men and women who have been fairly isolated during the winter NH months and with COVID. Dr Laura and Senator Hassan were invited to a Vet Center in Hooksett NH to meet with Veterans, many of them from the Vietnam War, who shared their stories with us. Cards and socks will also go to Centers around the State of NH. NOTE: We would love to partner with you across the Country to do the same for your Veterans!!

Dr Laura was invited to attend a Senate Hearing for VA Affairs, led by Senator Hassan and US COngressman Chris Pappas. THe many complex issues related to care of our Veterans were addressed and testimonies were shared. It was an honor to be in attendance and it was spectacular to learn that the Holiday Card CHallenge and #cards2connect Programs are well known and the impact of your cards is so well received!

Dr Laura was invited to Ft Devens by Sgt Mac (Marines) Forge Health to a tour and luncheon at the Veterans Center there. Holiday Cards were written by the luncheon attendees and they will be ready to go for the 2022 Challenge! IT was very moving to hear the stories of the Veterans who so generously shared them with us.

Dr Laura was invited to speak at the Greater Nashua NH Rotary CLub and 50 cards were signed for the Happy Spring 4 Troops Challenge. The Club has been an active partner over the years and committed to join in again this year for the Holidays .

SGT Mac (Marines) Forge Health connected Dr Laura with Miss Eden Pink, a seven year old in Virginia who has made it her mission for the last 2 years to send cards to Veterans. Eden decided that she wanted every Veteran to know that they are loved and has sent out thousands of handwritten cards. Dr Laura and Eden may indeed be kindred souls and the Holiday Card Challenge Team, along with Sgt Mac are trying to organize a meeting in DC!!

May is going to be exciting with more events to come. Lt Col JJ Johnson USAF VP for Military and Veterans Affairs is going to visit NH and in addition to some busy planning meetings for 2022, he and Dr Laura will be traveling around NH to meet with Card CHallenge partners as well as members of the Military!

And who thought that the Holiday Cards 4 Our Military Challenge was “just” for the winter holidays? It is surreal and amazing to let our Troops Veterans and Military Families know that we thin of them ALL YEAR LONG!! We share that mission and for that , we are so grateful!!!