Spreading Cheer: Cadets Create 130+ Holiday Cards for Missouri Veterans Homes

Missouri Military Academy cadets spread holiday cheer at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico through a JROTC Service Learning Project (SLP). In addition to the SLP, Melba Lackey's advisory class cadets also created and delivered holiday cards. 

Above, Cadet Swenson hands a card to a veteran.

SLPs are cadet-led initiatives that combine community service with classroom learning, developing leadership and teamwork skills while addressing community needs. Cadets involved in the holiday project created 130 cards over two weeks, assisted by MAJ Wayne Welander, Pipe Major Stuart Mackenzie and his wife Maggie.

"I figured that the veterans have been through enough. I believe that they deserve to have the best Christmas possible and that the MMA cadets could show support in this," said Cadet Hagan (photo, above), who came up with the idea for this SLP. 

Photo below, the cards that cadets created through the SLP.

The following cadets participated in the SLP: Kruze Hagan, Adam Swenson, Alexander Pro, Raymond McDonald, Roberto Lavalle, Zachary Sturgeon, Deonte Kerns, Michael Emminger, Jeremiah Senty, and Ryan Derstein.  

See more photos on Flickr.