El Reno High School continues 78-year tradition of giving gifts to Veterans
At the end of World War II, Oklahoma’s El Reno High School began a tradition of honoring Veterans that is still going strong 78 years later.
A proud tradition
Gifts for the Yanks began in 1945 with the American Legion Auxiliary, who made care packages during WWII for men and women overseas.
The program was once a manifold effort, involving hundreds of schools delivering presents and hand-written cards to say ‘thank you’ to Veterans during the holiday season. Over the decades, El Reno High School has continued the tradition when all other organization stopped.
EHS’s commitment
Each year, preparation for the program kicks into high gear after Veterans Day, when students begin raising funds.
Weeks later, in early December, El Reno’s auditorium is overflowing with items, sparking a massive gift-wrapping effort. Following a presentation at the high school, students personally deliver the presents to Veterans at Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System.
This year, the event occurred on Dec. 7, with 99 El Reno students and six staff members dispensing gifts and gratitude to nearly 400 Veterans. The school raised more than $12,000 for items.
Tim Pounds, El Reno principal, expressed the importance of this community effort to ensure that Veterans are not forgotten this time of year.
“We honor Vets in our school,” he said. “We build off that and talk to the kids about what it means to give back.”
Past and present connections
Rhonda Elmenhorst, El Reno registrar and alumni, spearheads Gift for the Yanks.
“I’ve worked here 25 years,” she said. “I grow more passionate about the program every year. I enjoy giving and knowing the joy we give to Veterans.”
Elmenhorst said many students aren’t fully invested in Gifts for the Yanks in the beginning, but they are transformed by the process.
“Once they go and see what it’s like and how we touch people, it moves my students,” she said. “You might give a Veteran their only present. The kids see how thankful the Veterans are and see their joy, and they want to go again.”
El Reno’s choir joined the gift-dispensing students at VA, visiting inpatient units and waiting rooms to sing carols.
A legacy of Veteran support
Melissa Overfield, Community Development and Civic Engagement officer at OKC VA, said, “We are incredibly grateful to the El Reno High School students and staff for their continued dedication to America's heroes.”
Many gift recipients and their families send letters of gratitude to El Reno. One Veteran carried his package home with pride and shared with his wife the kind words he’d heard from students.
“Taking the time to say thank you means more than any gift,” she wrote. “You will never know how much your generosity meant to us.”
Overfield shared an encounter from this year’s event. A 62-year-old Veteran, gripping his gift bag and near tears, said it was the first Christmas gift he'd received since he was a little boy.
“For some, this is their one and only Christmas spirit,” said Overfield. “It means so much for Veterans to be able to have this event every year, and to see the smiles these students bring to our Veterans is priceless."
Donations may be made to El Reno high school at www.elrenops.org.
To donate directly to OKC VA Healthcare System, contact the Center for Development and Civic Engagement at 405-456-5162.
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April Love is a Writer-Editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force. She began working for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in 2016 and lives in Aurora, Colorado.