Seminole State College students, faculty, staff and administrators once again made the 2024 Veteran Appreciation “Holiday Cheer” project a success, continuing a nearly decade-long tradition of honoring veterans during the holiday season.

From Nov. 11 to Dec. 2, the SSC community signed holiday cards filled with heartfelt messages of thanks and holiday cheer. A total of 200 cards were delivered to the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where they were distributed to inpatient and outpatient veterans.

Se’Naqua Hildreth, Voluntary Service Assistant with the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at the VA Medical Center, expressed gratitude for the effort. “We are so thankful for the heartfelt and generous outpouring of support from Seminole State College,” Hildreth said.

In addition, cards were delivered to Carl Odom, Commander of the Seminole American Legion Post #204. Both Hildreth and Odom were moved by the kindness of strangers demonstrating their support for veterans during the holiday season.

The project, led by SSC Professor of History Marta Osby, began in 2015 and has grown significantly over the years. “I am continually amazed by the support and thoughts expressed in our holiday cards for veterans,” Osby said. “In the busyness of the holiday season, so many of our veterans get overlooked. I want to personally thank each person who contributed. We, as grateful citizens, are forever in debt of these heroes, our veterans.”

SSC’s Operation Veteran Appreciation and Holiday Cheer project reflects the college’s commitment to honoring and supporting those who have served in the U.S. military. Over the years, the project has delivered hundreds of cards to veterans, spreading joy and reinforcing the college’s values of civic engagement and community service.