CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN HONORS SACRIFICES OF LOCAL HEROES, HELPS DELIVER 10,000 HOMEMADE VALENTINES TO HUDSON VALLEY VETERANS

Congressman Pat Ryan Honors Sacrifices of Local Heroes, Helps Deliver 10,000 Homemade Valentines to Hudson Valley Veterans

Over 10,000 Valentines, homemade by Hudson Valley students, were hand delivered to veterans across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties

KINGSTON, NY - In celebration of Valentine's Day last weekend, Congressman Pat Ryan and his team delivered 10,000 Valentines - handmade by Hudson Valley students and community members - to veterans across NY-18 for his fourth annual "Valentines for Vets." Ryan's team delivered the thousands of Valentine cards directly to veteran centers, community events, and through partner organizations serving local veterans.

"Veterans put their lives on the line to keep us safe and protect our democracy - it's the ultimate expression of love for their fellow Americans and for our country," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Each year, it's been remarkable to see the community's outpouring of gratitude to our local veterans. I'm so grateful to everybody - especially hundreds of students - who helped us deliver a record 10,000 Valentines to our Hudson Valley veterans this year. Thank you for showing our local heroes how much the Hudson Valley values their heroism and service."

"As a nonprofit, our mission is rooted in service - just like the veterans we're honored to support," said Aaron Leonard, Guardian Revival's CEO."The simple act of playing a song and delivering a handwritten card can remind veterans that their service is seen and remembered, not just on holidays but all year long. We're grateful to Congressman Ryan's office and the Castle Point VA team for helping make these moments of connection possible"

"I have been a member of the Highland High School Interact club for the past four years, holding a leadership title each of those years. I have been extremely grateful to be a part of an organization where I am able to give back to my community in such amazing ways," said Payton Hons, Highland High School Interact Club President. "After our Valentine for Veterans event we held at the Highland Elementary School, I was full of gratitude seeing the number of cards we were able to produce. We had over 100 cards to donate to veterans following the event. I am beyond thankful to be a part of such a remarkable club and able to partner with our lovely Elementary school."

"We are so grateful to have partnered with Congressman Ryan's office and with our very own High School Interact Club again for this year's card drive," said Highland Elementary School Principal Ian MacCormack."A special thank you to Payton and the Interact Students who helped our elementary kids to create over 100 cards for local veterans was a powerful display of service. Thank you to everyone involved for helping us give back to those who served!"

Ryan's office partnered closely with Vet2Vet, Guardian Revival, the Ulster County Veterans Service Agency, the Dutchess County Veterans Affairs Office, and numerous local VFW Posts and American Legion Posts across the community.

In the program's inaugural year in 2023, Congressman Ryan collected over 9,000 valentines made by Hudson Valley students and community members and hand-delivered them to veterans at Castle Point VA and Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Valentines were also delivered by his office to Hudson River Housing and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) across the Hudson Valley.

Congressman Pat Ryan is a U.S. Army veteran, having served two combat tours in Iraq, and is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee and has prioritized sponsoring and cosponsoring extensive legislation to deliver relief for veterans, service members, and military families. Ryan has hosted events celebrating veterans and connecting them with resources, including organizing a "Veterans Week of Action" in November 2023, hosting dozens of community partners for his Veterans and Military Families Resource Fair, and utilizing his mobile office, the C.A.R.E.S. Van, for a series of events bringing direct assistance to veterans at Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) across the Hudson Valley throughout the summer of 2024. Ryan recently hosted veterans from across the Hudson Valley for a breakfast in their honor where he recognized three veterans from Ulster, Orange, and Dutchess counties for their outstanding service to the nation and the Hudson Valley community.

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