2008 OPERATION: VALENTINE

 

For a third Year Operation Thank You has endorsed a coordination effort called Operation Valentine. Operation Valentine was originally founded in the Springboro Chapter, Headed by Jimmy Adams.  There most predominate objective is to raise the moral of troops and express the gratitude of the American people to those who serve. Operation Valentine is coordinated by the Springboro high school AFJROTC and the junior high schools Student Council.  These two school groups encourage students to make Valentines cards to the troops. Operation Valentine has now been coordinated in the Springboro School District for three years and this year we raised 1,111 cards and in the three years this has occurred we have received over 4,000 valentine’s cards. The AFJROTC and Junior High school Student Council has done an amazing job in the coordination effort and has shown an outstanding amount of dedication to this great cause. Great Job to everyone who has been involved.  We look forward to next Year.

This year several of the school in the Little Miami and Kings Local school Districts got involved, as well as several churches.  This year there were a total of 1,800 Valentines mailed to our troops in Iraqa, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and a hospital in Quatar.  The troops love receiving these messages from the kids.  Many will write back to the kids who have sent Valentines.  The classes are kept together and sent to one unit.  Each group has an address of the class and school so they can write to the kids if they have time. 

Operation: Thank You is very proud of the children who take an interest in our troops and we encourage them to learn more about what our troops are doing for them.  Many thanks to all the children and teachers who made this project such a success.  Many thanks to Jimmy Adams for your great organizational skills putting this project together and making is another successful year.

 Carol Alexander, President

 

 

 

In late December 2005, Jimmy and Patrick Adams, the 13 year old twins of Mr. and Mrs. Adams of Springboro, learned of Operation: Thank You from their mother.  They wanted to join the efforts of OTY.  Jimmy had been writing letters to the soldiers but did not know where to send them.  Jimmy told us of his plans to join the US Coast Guard when he is old enough.  OTY told him how to find the name of a Guardsman to write to.  As it worked out the Guardsmen was also a twin.  They were pen pals for months.  Jimmy and Patrick came up with the idea of getting their school involved making and sending Valentines to the troops.  They were able to send 1,500 Valentines to the soldiers who were on the OTY mailing list.

 

                                               After Operation: Valentine, SMSgt. Johnnie Wilson, one of the soldiers
                                               who had received some of the Valentines to distribute to his men. He
                                               wanted to show their appreciation to these young patriots.  Without the
                                               boys’ knowledge, Sgt. Wilson contacted the school principal and told him
                                               what he had in mind.  He sent a Challenger Medal and a Certificate of
                                               Appreciation to the principal who kept this secret for about 2 months, until
                                               the end of year Awards Assembly.  To the surprise of both Jimmy and

                                               Patrick, they were presented with the Medal and the Certificate. Also
                                               presented was an American flag that had been flown in Iraq over our

                                               troops.  This was presented to the school and is proudly displayed in a
                                               display case in the school.

 

The next year Operation: Valentine was in their hands again.  They again ask for the principal for the help of the school.  Again 1,500 valentines were mailed to the troops in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.  Operation: Valentine will continue to be the project of Jimmy and Patrick.  They also get their school involved with the Christmas card project each year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article on the Front Page of the Dayton Daily News...6/14/07

 

Springboro 8th-Grader establishes pattern of success

 

By Kevin Tucker

Contributing Writer

 

Springboro - Overcoming learning difficulties has led to Jimmy Adams being honored by the Springboro Board of Education. 

 

The 14-year old has already set his sights high - he wants to become a cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a goal he established way back in the second grade.

 

"Jimmy is an extraordinary student," Andrea Cook, Springboro Junior High School principal, said. "He's not your typical eighth-grader. He is very comfortable in dealing with adults and has an extraordinary way of dealing with people."

 

He credits his family (father, Mark; mother, Judy; brothers Patrick and Robby and step-brother, Luke) and his teachers.

 

"I want to thank every teacher I've had, they've been very supportive," Adams said. "I got the award, but they're the ones that made it happen. I'm proud of receiving it, but it made me realize how others have helped me a lot."

 

School did not always come so easily to him. In fifth grade he discovered he had some difficulty learning in large groups and problems with handwriting.

 

School officials developed an Individualized Education Plan, overcoming difficulties with handwriting through a laptop computer.

 

"Jimmy is one of the most hard-working, levelheaded, giving people I know," Julia Puckett, eighth-grade language arts teacher said of her pupil.

 

"I don't think he has ever missed a deadline and his work is always complete. In class discussions, his answers are insightful and show a high level of maturity. He is extremely compassionate and never misses an opportunity to help others."

 

Adams' interests expand beyond the walls of his classrooms.

 

A member of student council, he also participates in cross country and track and this summer intends on becoming certified in CPR through participation in lifesaving classes.

 

To salute his military heroes, Adams has spearheaded, through a Junior ROTC program, a project to send care packages to troops overseas in cooperation with the non-profit group Operation Thank You.

 

He also coordinated Operation Valentine, in which students sent Valentine's Day cards to the soldiers.

 

"They put their lives at risk every day and it's something that I'd like to do one day."

 

For the student who once encountered some difficulty in the classroom, Adams now counts math and science as his favorite subjects. He is accepting the challenge of public speaking.

 

"I love the basic classroom environment and the challenges I face each day," he said. "With the help of my teachers and family I've gained a lot of self esteem and I'm trying to reach my full potential. They've all been very supportive."

 

Cook predicts that Adams' success will carry over to the high school where he'll move next year, and beyond.

 

"Jimmy's going to do big things in his life...he already has," she said.

 

"He's set goals and knows what he needs to do in order to achieve them."

 

 

In late December 2005, Jimmy and Patrick Adams, 13 year old twins of Springboro, learned of Operation: Thank You from their mother, Judy, who was member of the volunteer staff.  They wanted to join the efforts of OTY.  Jimmy had been writing letters to the soldiers but did not know where to send them.  At  this time Patrick, who volunteered at a local nursing home, got the residents to write messages of encouragement on Christmas cards for the troops.  Jimmy got others to write the Christmas wishes.

 

Jimmy told us of his plans to join the US Coast Guard when he is old enough.  OTY told him how to find the name of a Guardsman to write to.  As it worked out the Guardsmen was also a twin.  They were pen pals for months.

 

Jimmy and Patrick came up with the idea of getting their school involved making and sending Valentines to the troops.  This is when Operation: Valentine was started  with the boys running the project.  They were able to send 1,500 Valentines to the soldiers who were on the OTY mailing list.

 

After Operation: Valentine, SMSgt. Johnnie Wilson, one of the soldiers who had received some of the Valentines to distribute to his men,  wanted to show their appreciation to these young patriots.  Without the boys knowledge, Sgt. Wilson contacted the school principal and told him what he had in mind.  He sent a Challenger Medal and a Certificate of Appreciation to the principal who kept this secret for about 2 months, until the end of year Awards Assembly.  To the surprise of both Jimmy and Patrick, they were presented with the Medal and the Certificate. Also presented was an American flag that had been flown in Iraq over our troops.  This was presented to the school and is proudly displayed in a display case in the school.

 

In 2007 Operation: Valentine was in their hands again.  They again ask for the principal for the help of the school.  Again 1,500 valentines were mailed to the troops in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.  For the 2007 Project again Jimmy and Patrick received a Certificate of Appreciation from Captain Jerimiah J. Corbin commanding officer of the 82^nd Brigade Support Battalion.  Operation: Valentine will continue to be the project of Jimmy and Patrick.  They continue to get their school involved with the Christmas card project each year. 

 

Operation: Thank You Is proud to have two such fine young men working as a large part of our staff.