Oregon State University’s student-run Healthy Aging Club hosted its second annual “Thank a Vet” activity at the SEC Plaza last week. More than 160 thank you notes were created by members of the OSU community. The notes were delivered to residents at the Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon on Veterans Day.
“Many of the veterans and the spouses of veterans who received the notes from the Oregon State community were very touched by the gesture,” Healthy Aging Club President Miranda Leedham says. “A lot of the residents are Beavers fans, so they were excited to see how supportive our university is of their past endeavors.”
The idea for Thank a Vet began at a brainstorming meeting in Fall 2015. It was the first year the university closed in observance of Veterans Day. The club wanted to take the holiday as an opportunity to do something that would honor local veterans.
The club collectively decided it would to write letters and encourage others to do the same. Club advisor Carolyn Aldwin assisted with coordinating logistics with the Oregon Veterans Home, and the idea took shape.
Miranda, who is graduating this spring, has hopes that the activity will continue as a club tradition and include other veterans who reside in nearby communities moving forward.
More information about the club and upcoming events can be found on the club’s Facebook page.