For the first time in Valentines for Veterans and First Responders program history, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s, D-Washington, the annual event sent 500 Valentine’s Day cards to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) soldiers deployed at Camp Hovey near the North Korean border.
Strickland sent a staffer to Camp Hovey to deliver the Valentine’s Day cards collected throughout the state’s 10th Congressional District, which includes portions of Thurston and Pierce counties, Olympia, southern Tacoma, Lacey, Yelm, Spanaway, JBLM, South Hill, Puyallup and more.
The Valentines for Veterans and First Responders program was initially launched in 2022 and includes thousands of messages from students and community groups in the annual effort. In 2025, Valentine’s Day cards were sent overseas for the first time.
“Service members who are stationed abroad should also feel appreciation for their service,” Siena Miller, spokeswoman for Strickland, told the Stars and Stripes publication.
Soldiers at the 1st Battalion 37th Field Artillery Regiment motor pool received the Valentine’s Day cards — many decorated with drawings, messages and handmade crafts.
“To me, small things count, and they really matter,” Spc. Todd Marquez, of California, said at the motor pool Tuesday. “Sometimes, you might be having a bad day, and little things like this help a lot.”
Camp Hovey is located 11 miles south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a highly secured buffer-zone between North and South Korea. The soldiers stationed there are members of the 2nd Infantry Division, which primarily consists of combat arms such as mechanized infantry and field artillery.
Marquez said the gesture shows troops that people back home are thinking about them. He currently serves with the artillery regiment.
“I probably speak on everybody’s behalf in saying that we appreciate it,” he told Stars and Stripes. “It’s really thoughtful, and it does help morale with the unit.”
First Lt. Gerard Massey, of Texas, said the impact of receiving Valentine’s Day cards went beyond the physical gift.
“It’s not necessarily the Valentine itself; it’s the mental acknowledgment,” he said. “It’s the, ‘hey, we know you’re forward, we know you’re making a sacrifice, and we appreciate you.’”
According to Massey, Strickland’s efforts resonated with members throughout the unit.
“What may have taken them five minutes to make means the world to us,” he said. “There were huge smiles on faces today because of this.”
