Soldiers need valentines too
COMMENTARY
Emily Baker

Most people have had to spend a Valentine’s Day alone. They sit on the couch rolling their eyes at all the schmaltzy movies on TV. They don’t dare go out into the sea of sap engulfing restaurants and movie theaters. And they sit there trying to convince themselves they didn’t really want a date anyway.

However, soldiers and officers serving on a military base miles away from friends and loved ones experience something a little worse. Those same gushy movies are like needles that prick at a memory. Many of the selfless men and women who have dedicated themselves to insuring our safety by enlisting in the military will have to spend Valentine’s Day alone this year. They will courageously complete their duties on Friday. But at the same time, they’ll pine for a little of that Valentine’s Day sap.

The good news is they don’t have to feel alone. The American Legion Auxiliary, a women’s patriotic service organization, is sponsoring “Valentines For Troops.” Their goal is to deliver one million preferably hand-made valentines to the servicemen and servicewomen stationed at various military bases.

They accept valentines from groups and from individuals. This is a fun, easy and inexpensive way to show troops that TCU cares and supports them.

The American Legion Auxiliary has a few guidelines to keep in mind when making valentines.

• Do not place valentines in individual envelopes. All messages will be screened for security reasons.
  
  
• Do not include negative or political messages. Take care when considering messages. Don’t include any statement that may cause uneasiness to the reader.
  
  
• Do not use glitter when making valentines.
  
  
• Do not attach or send candy or food items.
  
  
• Valentines must be mailed by today (you might have to over-night them) or e-mailed by Friday. Those not received in time will be saved for next year.

Mail valentines to Valentines For Troops, c/o Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, 21516 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita, Calif. 91350. To e-mail a message, go to (http://anyservicemember.navy.mil). Or, if you’d like to choose which ship of naval troops receives your message, go to (www.salts.navy.mil/main/troops/index.html). To sign your name to a thank-you note, visit (www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html). Sending a message through these sites takes only a few seconds.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all mush and romance. Try breaking out the markers and construction paper and applying those amazing doodling skills to something other than the margins of your notes.

Emily Baker is a senior news-editorial journalism major from Midland.
She can be reached at (e.k.baker@tcu.edu).