Missouri students bring smiles to veterans with heartfelt letters on National Write a Letter Day

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — A simple letter can mean the world to someone who feels alone. That was the driving force behind an initiative by RSVP/VIC, which delivered 2,017 handwritten letters to elderly residents in the Cape Girardeau area, including retired service members.

Among those participating was Jacob Muckerman, a student at St. Vincent de Paul School, who wrote three letters addressed to local veterans.

“Thank you for your service,” Muckerman said. “The world wouldn’t be the same without them.”

Muckerman’s letters featured drawings, including American flags and an eagle, a small gesture looking to help brighten someone’s day.

Lauren Anne Cole, chairwoman of RSVP/VIC, talked about the importance of this initiative in combating loneliness among seniors.

“Over 8 million seniors in the United States are lonely and feel isolated,” Cole said. “A lot of that has to do with people aging at home, which is why we also got Meals on Wheels involved. The letters that children are writing will be delivered to them along with their meals.”

The project also included a special visit to the Missouri Veterans Home, where members of the National Guard helped distribute letters. For Bobbie Dilley, a military spouse, the moment was deeply personal.

Her late father, Robert Lee Jones, was a retired Army colonel who served for 41 years.

“It means a lot to me,” Dilley said. “Being in the military was a big part of my father’s life. My brother, my husband—they’re all in the military. To see his legacy of giving back continue means so much.”

Dilley described the emotional impact of visiting the veterans home and witnessing their reactions.

“Going there is always emotional for me,” she said. “But seeing their smiling faces, some wanting to write back to the kids, I knew that would make the kids happy, too.”

This marks the first year RSVP/VIC has organized the letter-writing campaign in the community, but Cole says they are just getting started. Plans for next year include expanding to more schools, including public schools  like Cape Central.

“Everybody said yes because it’s positive from every direction,” Cole said. “The children earn community service hours, and the veterans get a moment of joy.”

For Muckerman, the experience was just as rewarding.

“It just made me feel really happy doing it,” he said.