SAN ANGELO, Texas — For military servicemembers past and present, words of encouragement can act as newfound inspiration, especially in times of war or hardship.
Blank cards, envelopes and colorful markers sit on a table near the entrance of San Angelo's Tom Green County Library North Angelo Branch, waiting for community members to sign and decorate them as an extra way to say "Thank you" for the sacrifices of military personnel.
The program is part of national nonprofit 'A Million Thanks,' which has spent approximately 20 years distributing cards to veterans, reservists and active duty representing all six branches of the military.
"And when I found out about [A Million Thanks], I started this program here at the library," North Angelo Branch Manager and librarian Chelsea Preas said. "So what they do is they take all of these letters from different people to veterans, active duty military, wounded warriors, reserves and they distribute them."
Preas emphasized the importance not only of supporting the military during Veterans and Memorial Days, but all year round.
For the past six or seven years, she has set up a display in the library, encouraging those young and old to sign a sentiment along the lines of "Dear Hero" and "Dear Troops," as seen on the Tom Green County Library System Facebook page.
The library is accepting cards now through Nov. 31, when they be sent to collection centers for transportation and delivery.
"There's collection centers all over the place and I thought it would be nice to just do our own little collection center here," Preas said. "We have the cards, we have the envelopes, everything's free, they can just come in and write a letter of thanks to someone and it will get sent off."
Since its start Nov. 21, the library has already collected numerous cards, which are placed in a clear plastic box on the table by the doorway.
Preas encourages children to participate, because "I'm sure that members of the military would be tickled pink to get something like that and we encourage that," she said.
Mostly, she wants servicemembers to know their dedication does not go unnoticed.
"I just feel like veterans and military deserve as much thanks as they can possibly be given and any little thing that we can do to encourage someone who had, who chose, really, to give up a little piece of their freedom to defend ours, is worth doing, you know, that's worth supporting," she said.
Cards can also be completed from home and dropped off at the library, 3001 N. Chadbourne St.
They will likely be delivered in 2024 after the holiday season.
