First-graders make valentines for public servants

First-graders in Megan Pancich’s class at Riverview Elementary have learned about special people in the community and offered to help kick off the Tribune’s valentine card drive for firefighters, police, military members and veterans.

Students had hearts made of construction paper with lines on one side to write their valentines, and they decorated the fronts of their cards.

First-graders made cards for a firefighter, police officer, veteran or military member.

Caris Holden, 7, wrote her card to a firefighter. It also had a drawing of firefighters rescuing someone from a burning building.

Valentine�s Day cards aimed at military, cops, fire

“I’m pretty much glad that our town doesn’t get burned to ashes,” she said. “Without them, our houses would be burned.”

He classmate Tallen Tucker, 7, wrote a valentine to a soldier “because they keep our world safe.”

Down the hall in Stephanie Frank’s class, some students made the front of their hearts into creatures like pandas and snails.

Cael Floerchinger, 7, made his valentine for a police officer “because they save our country.”

Layne Mitzimberg, 7, also made a card for a police officer, “because police protect our universe.”

In Kristal Thunstrom’s first-grade class, Kollin Votaw, 6, was making a valentine for a cop “because he saves us and I want to be just like him.”

Rylee Virts, 7, is the daughter of a Great Falls firefighter so she made her card for a firefighter.

“You keep people safe,” she wrote. “That is amazing. I am proud of you.”

The community is invited to make valentines for local military members, veterans, police officers and firefighters. The cards can be dropped off at the Tribune building, 205 River Drive S., by 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11.

Store-bought cards and homemade cards will be fine; please do not seal the envelopes. The valentine cards are destined for people including Great Falls veterans and folks at Malmstrom Air Force Base; the Montana Air National Guard; the Great Falls Police and Fire departments; and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.