Mohawk Valley Veterans to Receive Student Cards
Hundreds of local veterans will get handmade Veterans Day cards from regional students through the seventh annual Cards for Vets initiative.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Military
Hundreds of Mohawk Valley veterans will receive handmade cards and letters from students for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2026. The Cards for Vets initiative, now in its seventh year, is sponsored by State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon.
Why it matters
The program connects students across the region with veterans at American Legion and VFW posts, nursing homes, senior centers, and other veteran organizations. It also marks one of the final efforts of Buttenschon's Assembly tenure, as she retires in January 2027.
The initiative is in its seventh year and has been sponsored by Buttenschon's office every year since she took office in 2018, after eight years in the New York State Assembly. The exact number of cards and recipients for this year has not been specified.
The players
Marianne Buttenschon
A New York State Assemblywoman representing the 119th district, who founded the Cards for Vets initiative and is retiring from the Assembly in January 2027.
The details
Buttenschon and her team coordinate the distribution of student messages across the Assembly's 119th district. Students, teachers, staff, and administrators from schools including Utica, Rome, Whitesboro, New York Mills, Oriskany, and Holland Patent collaborate on the cards.
Timeline
2018: Buttenschon takes office and founds Cards for Vets.
Nov. 11, 2026: Cards are distributed to veterans for Veterans Day.
January 2027: Buttenschon retires from her Assembly seat.
Legacy Program
The Cards for Vets initiative has run for seven consecutive years under Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon's office, beginning in 2018. This year's distribution extends that tradition as she prepares to leave the Assembly seat in January 2027.
Veterans at American Legion and VFW posts, nursing homes, and senior centers in the Mohawk Valley will receive personal handwritten messages from local students. Residents of the 119th district can see the program's community reach ahead of the upcoming holiday.
The takeaway
Community-driven gestures like student-written cards show how local programs can sustain veteran recognition across years and leadership changes. Readers interested in supporting veterans can look for similar local initiatives through their nearest American Legion or VFW post.
What happens next
Cards will be distributed to veterans ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2026, and Buttenschon retires from her Assembly seat in January 2027.
Further reading
For more on the military beat, see our Military coverage across New York.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Utica Observer Dispatch.
