From Mary Ladd at the Ponca City Public Schools. Ponca City Senior High School students in Melinda LittleCook’s art class are reaching out to community Veterans through their art. They created American Veteran Post Cards with poems or letters on the back to be given to local Veterans in appreciation for the service to our country.Melinda LittleCook, Po-Hi Art Teacher, said, “I loved working with the students on this project. It is good to visit the American Flag and our country. I love these small unique American Flag inspired post cards. The students are introduced to American Artist Jasper Johns, known for his work of flags. We have a discussion about the American Flag and the folks who have served in the military. These small pieces of art are to be given asa Thank You. On the back of each card is a personal note as well. Some of the students ended up sharing stories about their family members that had been in the service. Imagine being the recipient of one of the American Veterans Post Cards.” Sue Allen, Oklahoma DAR Oklahoma State Regent, hand delivered the cards to local Veterans. She explained, “Flag cards with letters on the back were handmade by Po-Hi art students in Mrs. LittleCook’s class and were delivered to Veterans of WWII, Korean, Vietnam who were in the nursing home in Tonkawa and four nursing homes in Ponca City. Representatives of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Ladies Auxiliary of VFW and American Legion visited the nursing homes presenting cards, Veteran flyers, parade buttons and ribbons and visited with each Veteran. I was fortunate to present the cards with the poems. It was a delight to see their eyes light up and the smiles on their faces. Many of them were excited that the students thought enough of them and cared enough to make them the picture and to write something. The Veterans felt loved and blessed by this kind gesture.” Each of the Po-Hi art students who created the cards wrote heartfelt letters telling the Veterans how much they appreciated the sacrifices they made for them and our country.
Emma Kimbrel, 10th grade student said in part, “The flowers in my drawing represent a bright light of hope – that of which our
country should have. We are all bonded together without even knowing it. I want them to know they are my role model.”
Kamryn Burns, 12th grade student, said, “I felt sad that our troops have to be shipped across the world
and be away from their families, but they sacrificed everything for us. I couldn’t be more grateful for them
making our world a better place.”
Kaden Swords, 9th grade student, said in part, “I was thinking about what the flag means to me and I was
heavily inspired by my step dad who has PTSD from a car bomb that blew up beside him. Whilst he
loves fireworks, he can’t watch them because of his PTSD.”
Emma Tyson, 10th grade student, said, “I felt a sense of pride for our country and our accomplishments
as a country. I felt honored to be able to give something as small as a picture and a letter to someone
who did so much for us for our freedom and rights. They deserve more than we can give them.”
Morgan Didlake, 12th grade student, said, “This project really inspired me because our troops go out and
fight for our freedom. I wanted this card to have as much thanks and gratitude in it as well as history. The
stars in my drawing represent different wars in different colors. Nothing I can ever do would amount to
what they did for our country, but I hope this shows my gratitude.”
Taryn Carter, 11th grade student, said, “I felt proud making my art for my brother. I am very thankful for
everyone who is serving our country. It gave me a feeling of pride to be a part of this country and to show
honor to those who serve.”
Below are the actual hand-written (typed) letters from each student explaining the project and
how it made them feel.
Emma R. Kimbrel
Flowers – Bright Light of Hope
10th Grade
What I felt when I worked on this project was feelings that most youth don’t have. In the top corner there are tiny
squares and rectangles. To me, they feel like memories that are floating around – maybe even ones that are
forgotten. The flowers on my drawing show a bright light of hope – that which our country should have. We all are
bonded together without even knowing it. After the Veterans had served, we all felt at peace. Some people might
not be respectful, but on the inside they are because we would not be where we are now without our Veterans.
What it meant to me to be able to have my card given to a Veteran meant a lot. All that mattered to me was that I
made their day and that they know they are my role model. They changed this country for the better, and that is the
best thing anyone could have done for this country. I wanted them to know that someone is thinking about them.
Kamryn Burns
Salute to the Troops
12th Grade
When I was working on this project, I felt sad that our troops have to be shipped across the world and be away from
their families. They sacrificed everything for us and I couldn’t be more grateful for them making our world a better
place.
It really means a lot to me giving my art work to someone that has served our country because my uncle is in the
Air Force and I know he really would have appreciated knowing that no matter where you are, we are always with
you and grateful for your service.
Kaden Swords
Fire Crackers
9th Grade
I was thinking about what the flag means to me and how Jasper Johns created this works. I was also heavily
inspired by my step dad who has PTSD from a car bomb that blew up beside him. Whilst he loves fireworks, he
can’t watch them because of his PTSD. It makes me feel happy to be able to give something back to the people
who have risked everything for me and millions of others to stay free.
Morgan Didlake
America the Brave & Strong
12th Grade
This project really inspired me because our troops go out and fight for our freedom. I wanted this card to have as
much thanks and gratitude in it as well as history. The stars represent different wars in different colors. This project
was amazing. Nothing I can ever do would amount to what they did for our country, but I hope this shows my
gratitude.
Emma Tyson
The Brave, Bright & Bold
10th Grade
I felt almost a sense of pride – pride for our country and our accomplishments as a country. After talking about what
the flag meant, I felt deep feelings for our country and all that we’ve done.
I felt honored to be able to give something as small as a little picture and a letter to someone who did so much for
us for our freedom and rights. I felt better to at least do that, versus nothing at all, for the people who risked so
much for us. They deserve more respect than we give them.
Taryn Carter
Land of the Free Because of the Brave
11th Grade
I felt proud making my art for my brother. I am very thankful for everyone who is serving our country. My artwork
was inspired by the Jasper Johns. It gave me a feeling of pride to be a part of this country and to show honor to
those who serve.
