Seventh annual Oneida County card drive connects students with veterans, but schools should confirm the Nov. 1 cutoff after a calendar error in the release.
By David LaGuerre
Cards for Vets 2026 is underway across the Mohawk Valley, inviting students to make handwritten thank-you cards for veterans who live in Oneida County. Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon’s office says the cards will go to American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, nursing homes and senior centers before Veterans Day.
The project is now in its seventh year. It began as a single-classroom effort and has grown into a district-wide activity involving hundreds of students, according to the Oct. 26 announcement. The office says the goal is simple: give young people a direct way to reflect on service while reminding local veterans that their community remembers them.
As a veteran, I am honored that our local children are taking the time to do this. Their cards mean a great deal to me and to others who have served.
There is one important detail for schools to check. The release asks schools to submit cards by “Saturday, November 1,” but Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday in 2026. The announcement also does not provide a public drop-off or mailing procedure. Teachers and school administrators should therefore confirm their own collection schedule and the final handoff instructions with Buttenschon’s district office at 315-732-1055 before sending anything.
Cards for Vets 2026: What schools need to know
The invitation names 11 schools and school systems across the region:
- Utica City School District
- Rome City School District
- Whitesboro Central School District
- New York Mills Union Free School District
- Oriskany Central School District
- Utica Academy of Science
- Notre Dame Elementary School and Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School
- Westmoreland Central School District
- New York State School for the Deaf
- House of the Good Shepherd’s Tilton School
- Holland Patent Central School District
The release describes a school-based collection, not an unrestricted public card drive. A parent or student who wants to participate should first ask a teacher, principal or school office whether that school is collecting cards. People outside the listed schools can call the Assembly district office and ask whether there is an approved way to contribute. That step can prevent cards from arriving late or at a location that is not prepared to accept them.
Buttenschon’s office is at Room 401 in the State Office Building, 207 Genesee St., Utica. The office lists buttenschonm@nyassembly.gov as the Assembly member’s public email address. Benjamin Furner, the communications director named on the release, can be reached at furnerb@nyassembly.gov. Schools should still use the collection process given by their own administrators rather than assuming that individual cards may be dropped off at the state office.
What to write in a card for a veteran
A thoughtful card does not need to be long. One or two sincere sentences and a drawing can be enough. The safest approach is to thank the recipient for serving and to wish them well. Students do not need to describe war, guess where someone served or assume that every veteran saw combat.
Simple messages students can adapt
- Thank you for your service to our country and community.
- I appreciate the time and sacrifices you gave while serving.
- Our class is thinking of local veterans this Veterans Day.
- Thank you for helping protect the freedoms our community values.
Students should use their own words instead of copying a sample exactly. Teachers may also want to explain that Veterans Day is written without an apostrophe and honors everyone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is different from Memorial Day, which centers on those who died while serving.
Protect student privacy
Cards should not include a child’s home address, phone number, personal email, social media account or other private contact information. A first name, grade and school may be enough if the teacher approves. Schools should follow their normal privacy rules, especially when students are young or when a card could be photographed or displayed.
Teachers should review cards before collection. That review is not about making every message sound the same. It is a chance to catch personal information, correct an accidental historical mistake and make sure the message is respectful.
Why the project matters in Oneida County
It has been more than 45 years since I enlisted, and I do not regret a minute of my service. It is the little things and gestures, like a child’s handwritten card, that bring a smile not only to my face but also to my heart. Seeing our young people show this kindness reinforces why I am so proud that I served.
Buttenschon represents the 119th Assembly District, which includes Utica, Rome, Floyd, Deerfield, Marcy and Whitestown. The card drive reaches many of the same communities through their schools, veterans organizations and care facilities.
“A handwritten card may be a small gesture, but they remind our veterans that they are seen, that they’re remembered, thanked, and that their service remains an inspiration to our youth,” Buttenschon said in the release. She said she continues to be moved by the students and educators who participate.
The program has a record that can be checked beyond this year’s announcement. The Assembly member’s official 2025 follow-up reported that more than 500 handwritten cards were delivered around the district. Recipients included posts, senior centers, nursing homes and veterans organizations in Utica, Rome, Whitesboro, Yorkville, New York Mills, Stittville, Floyd, Marcy, Oriskany, Holland Patent and Deerfield.
That history helps explain the practical value of the project. The cards are not held for a ceremony in Albany. They are directed to places where local veterans gather or receive care. The participating schools also range from large city systems to smaller suburban districts and specialized programs, including the New York State School for the Deaf.
What this means for you
For students and families
Ask your school whether it is participating and when the classroom deadline is. Because the state release contains a day-and-date conflict, do not wait until the weekend of Nov. 1 to ask. A school may need cards earlier so staff can review, bundle and deliver them.
For teachers and administrators
Confirm the collection deadline and delivery method with the district office. Then give students a short lesson on the purpose of Veterans Day, a clear privacy rule and time to write an original message. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a Veterans Day resource page with educational materials and the history of the Nov. 11 observance.
For veterans and military families
The card drive is an appreciation project, not a benefits program. Veterans who need help with benefits, claims or referrals can contact the Oneida County Veterans Service Agency. Phoenix readers can also review our reporting on the Utica Veterans Outreach Center and our guide to New York veterans property-tax exemptions.
Questions still worth asking
The release gives schools a broad invitation but leaves several operational details open. How many cards does the program hope to collect this year? Which locations will receive them? Can families whose schools are not participating join through another approved channel? Will the office publish a corrected deadline?
Those are reasonable questions for the district office, and the answers could help more people take part without creating confusion for schools or care facilities. A small project works best when the route from classroom to recipient is clear.
If your school is participating, tell us what students are learning from the project. Veterans and family members are also invited to share what a handwritten message means to them. Please do not post private health information, home addresses or other sensitive details in a public comment. Story tips may be sent to news@uticaphoenix.net.
Source note: Program details and Buttenschon’s quotation come from the official release issued by her Assembly office on Oct. 26, 2026. Background was checked against the New York State Assembly and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
