Cherry Tree Elementary music teacher Anna Moody and her students aimed to brighten the holiday season for U.S. service members deployed to the Middle East by creating 100 handmade holiday cards. They were hand delivered by a parent of one of her students who was deployed this Christmas, too.

The idea for students to make the cards originated with the parent of one of Moody’s students, Heather Wignall. She came up with the idea as her husband, Brian, spoke to Moody’s students on Veterans Day. Knowing her husband was preparing to deploy to the Middle East toward the end of 2024, Wignall thought that maybe Brian could bring some handmade Christmas cards to service members while he was there.

When Wignall approached Moody with the idea, she was immediately onboard to make it happen.

“Cherry Tree Elementary has always done an absolutely outstanding job honoring veterans during their Veterans Day presentation” said Brian Wignall, Master Religious Coordinator for the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (Army Reserve) at Fort Benjamin Harrison. “Heather was moved by the great job Cherry Tree Elementary always does honoring veterans each year and saw the opportunity with me deploying again to come alongside and add to it. When she originally reached out to Anna, Anna saw the good that making these cards and letters would do for the students and at the same time, Heather saw the good that it would do for the service members on deployment.”

Brian’s job during his deployment is to manage the chaplain’s security and transportation. He also visits the young service members to deliver care packages, thank them for their service, listen to their stories, counsel and encourage them and pray with them.

“It’s really important that these young soldiers know that what they’re doing is important and that they are seen and appreciated,” Brian said. “This year, a number of the troops I visited are members of the Indiana National Guard. This year was extra special because I was able to pass out all of these Christmas cards made by elementary students at Cherry Tree Elementary.”

Wignall said the cards brought holiday cheer to those who received them.

“When I explained where these cards came from and I watched the service members read them, they all seemed very touched,” Wignall said. “Almost universally, I would see soldiers start to smile as they would read the cards.”

While her elementary students were making the cards, Moody took the opportunity to explain that the cards were going to service members who couldn’t be home with their families for Christmas. She also pointed out on a map where the students’ letters would be delivered.

“I showed them some example cards, and after they finished, they would come up to me and show me, just so excited,” Moody said. “They did things like Christmas trees and Santa hats, military pictures, and a lot of them said, ‘I’m sorry that you can’t be with your family. Thank you for being away from them to protect our country.’ I’m going to show them the pictures of Mr. Wignall giving out cards to the actual troops.”