Tara Halbritter

Residents of Pierson Hall are showing their support for war veterans in valentine form. The hall government invited all Pierson Hall residents to make cards for veterans at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls. Students had the chance to decorate cards from 2 until 9 p.m. in the hall lobby on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The cards were taken to Sioux Falls Friday to be handed out to the patients.Pierson Hall Government President Roxy Hammond said students were “floating in and out all day long.”The government provided the materials needed for the project. Students involved with hall government each took shifts sitting at the table overseeing the card-making. “I think it will brighten up their Valentine’s Day,” said Margo Spry, a Pierson Hall resident who participated in the project. “We did this last year for a nursing home. It was fun last year, so I figured, ‘why not do it again this year?'”Originally, the hall government members wanted to send Christmas cards to members of our military serving overseas. Unfortunately, time ran short and the group wasn’t able to get that idea into motion. Still wanting to show their support, the decision was made to construct “Valentines for Vets.” Hammond said she retrieved the idea from a magazine.Although she had some concern of how many students would participate in the project, Hammond wanted to give each patient a card.”I was hoping we’d get enough for most of the patients, which is about 100,” she said. Luckily, with the hard work of the hall government and other students, Hammond’s worries would not be justified. The group had a grand total of 108 cards at the end of the project.”We weren’t sure what to expect,” said Pierson Resident Hall Director, Dana Northrup. He said the project was an inexpensive and easy way to show that people care. The project was viewed as a success to all of those who were involved.

#1.885416:1978379310.jpg:valentines.jpg:Roxy Hammond (left) and Alison Harildstad (right), of Pierson Hall Government, participated in the “Valentines for Vets” project. A total of 108 cards was made.: