Northport VA Thanks Red Robin for Valentine’s Cards

With so many detailed, serious messages and pieces of information “flying at us” constantly, the silver linings in the stream have been those messages highlighting the good deeds and acts of kindness being performed by both adults and children locally, nationally and around the world.  As you know, in concert with the strong academic and social components of the Red Robin philosophy, we pride ourselves on our thrust to “Build Children Of Character.”  Our canned food drives, musical visits to the older adults at The Arbors during the holidays and creation/delivery of Valentines For Veterans are all aimed at demonstrating the importance of giving back and acting in the service of others.  At times like these, we believe that our future leaders, your children, will act accordingly, putting human life ahead of everything else!!!!

Please share the attached thank you letter with our students and make sure they fully appreciate what the words mean.  Their efforts touched the lives of those who truly sacrificed on behalf of us all and who know that they are appreciated because of our students’ creations.  No philanthropic deed should be performed for a thank you, but a thank you that captures the positive impact your effort made hopefully encourages everyone to continue the movement toward assisting others.

Student’s in Miss Anne’s Class created special “uplifting and colorful” Valentine’s cards “with sweet messages of thanks, support and encouragement” for patients at the Northport Veteran’s Medical Center this year.

On March 17, Joe Sledge, Health Systems Specialist, wrote a sincere Thank You note to Miss Anne and Red Robin Country Day School expressing his thanks for the cards and how they were warmly received by the patients.

Here’s the text of Mr. Sledge’s Thank You:

Please forgive me for the inexcusable delay in sending this letter of appreciation to you and the students of Red Robin County Day School for your thoughtful and kind support of Northport VA Medical Center’s veterans at Valentine’s Day.

Please know that upon receiving the children’s beautiful handmade cards, I worked with our Chief of Nutrition and Food Servics to ensure they were lovingly placed on the meal trays deliver to the hospitalized veterans on Valentines’ Day – just as your cousin (and my mentor), Marge Rogan, had done for years before her retirement last spring. As always, the uplifting and colorful cards – with their sweet messages of thanks, support and encouragement – were warmly received and greatly appreciated by the patients.

In the letter that accompanied this year’s Valentines, you wrote of your son’t service to our nation in Iraq. I hope that he is doing well and knows that is service and sacrifices on behalf of all of us – and innocent other the world over – is appreciated. If I can ever be of assistance to him or to you, pleas edo not hesitate to ask.

Again, please forgive me for the delay in acknowledging yours and the children’s kindness.

Sincerely,

Joe Sledge,

Health Systems Specialist