By NORLEEN KNOLL

Special to The Hays Daily News

The after-school youth at the Hays Public Library participated in the annual Valentines for Vets recently in the children's department. Youth spent days after school writing messages to veterans on the back of valentines to thank them for their service to our country.

The youth set and met a goal of 500 valentines that will be combined with valentines collected by Ellis United Methodist Church. According the Betty Wayman, chairwoman of the local Valentines for Vets, the valentines will be sent to VA hospitals in Topeka, Leavenworth and Wichita.

Valentines for Vets is an annual program that takes place in conjunction with National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. Every February, Americans open their hearts to the nation's hospitalized veterans by sending cards and letters to Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country.

First established as an official VA program in 1978, National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week serves as a valuable public awareness program to help people understand the important role of VA medical facilities and encouraging volunteer activities to help veterans. More than 3.8 million veterans of the U.S. Armed services are cared for every day in Department of Veterans Affairs' medical centers, clinics and nursing homes.

Norleen Knoll is head of the children's

department at the Hays Public Library.