Albany Students Send 230 Veterans Thank-You Letters

Second graders at Albany R-III wrote more than 230 letters to veterans in 16 states, more than double their original goal.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Military

Photograph of a bundle of folded cream paper tied with twine on a wooden classroom desk, with a small flag and rural autumn fields visible through a window. — Second graders at Albany R-III in Missouri wrote more than 230 thank-you letters to veterans in 16 states, more than doubling their goal of 100 for Veterans Day. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Albany R-III second grade students wrote more than 230 letters to veterans in 16 states. The students had set a goal of 100 letters for Veterans Day and more than doubled it with help from community members.

Why it matters

The effort reflects an annual classroom practice in which second grade teacher Samantha Garland has students thank veterans, and Garland said it is important to recognize the country's veterans. For Missouri readers, it shows how a small rural school district in Albany can reach veterans far beyond its own community.

The class exceeded its goal of 100 letters, with more than 230 sent to veterans in 16 states. Its standard recipient list covers about 75 community members, family, and friends, and the source does not report how many letters reached veterans or how they responded.

The players

Albany R-III School District

Albany R-III is a public school district in Albany, Missouri, serving students in the northwest part of the state.

Samantha Garland

Samantha Garland is a second grade teacher at Albany R-III who organizes the class's annual letters to veterans.

The details

Students wrote the letters with help from community members, drawing on the class's usual recipient list of about 75 people. Teacher Samantha Garland has her second graders write thank-you letters to veterans every year, and this year's effort grew well beyond the original plan.

Every year: Students write thank-you letters to veterans as a class tradition.
Veterans Day: The class set its original goal of 100 letters for this day.
November 13, 2026: Reporting on the more-than-230 letters was published.

Civic Tradition

The effort follows a long-running practice of U.S. elementary classes writing to veterans around Veterans Day, a tradition that teaches students about military service. Albany's class extends that practice by reaching veterans across 16 states rather than only local recipients.

Missouri families and classrooms can adopt similar letter-writing projects to thank veterans in their own communities. The effort shows that a modest class project can reach veterans well beyond the local area.

The takeaway

A simple class project can connect children with veterans across the country. Schools and families across Missouri can start similar letter campaigns ahead of Veterans Day.