Addabbo Visits Veterans Hospital with Gifts from Local Students

Howard Beach, NY (March 1, 2016) As part of the Valentines for Vets program, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. recently paid a visit to the St. Alban’s VA Medical Center to deliver valentines cards made by students at a school in his district.

The handmade valentines were created by third-graders at PS 88 in Ridgewood to show their support and appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made and continue to make today. Addabbo, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, collected the valentines from the school and handed them out to veterans from the community during his recent visit to the VA hospital.

“Any time we get a chance to do something nice for our veterans, it’s important that we seize that opportunity,” said Addabbo. “Those who have served bravely to protect our country and our way of life deserve the utmost respect and appreciation, and we must pass that onto our children, as well. The Valentines for Vets initiative is dually successful in not only showing our veterans that we thank them for their courage and their sacrifices, but in teaching young students in the community that a small gesture can often go a long way toward showing someone you care. I am honored to be a part of this program and am grateful to have been able to spend time with both the students when collecting these valentines as well as the veterans when distributing them.”

Addabbo thanked PS 88 Principal Robert Quintana and third grade teacher Audrey Glass for their cooperation in the Valentines for Vets program, as well as the staff and patients at the St. Albans VA Medical Center for welcoming him to visit.