Students from Puerto Rico Send Support to Military Personnel
Students from three schools in northern Puerto Rico have sent handmade Christmas cards to troops stationed overseas. The messages were filled with thanks and encouragement for the service members’ dedication. The initiative aimed to lift spirits during the holiday season.
The cards were organised by Lisa Morales, an educator at the University of Puerto Rico. She coordinated the effort as part of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), which focuses on youth development and community involvement. Hundreds of troops from Puerto Rico are currently deployed worldwide, especially in the Caribbean, under the U.S. Southern Command.
1st Sgt. Alex Figueroa of the Marine Corps Reserve unit at Fort Buchanan highlighted the impact of such gestures. He explained that small acts of kindness greatly improve morale among deployed personnel. Fort Buchanan itself plays a key role in military operations, serving as a strategic hub for readiness and deployments. The base operates with an annual budget of over $500 million. The students’ cards were designed to bring comfort to service members spending the holidays away from home. Each message expressed gratitude for their sacrifices and service.
The project connected young students with military personnel through personal, handwritten notes. The cards reached troops at a time when many were separated from family during the festive period. The initiative also reinforced the EFNEP’s goal of fostering civic responsibility among youth.
