The Kiwanis Kids Club at Willow Grove School in Hackettstown, which has a record of showing patriotism and providing support for veterans and those serving in the armed services, has won the State of New Jersey Spirit of Americanism Award.

The club, made up of third and fourth graders at the elementary school, located off Willow Grove Street, has hosted several initiatives this year to benefit veterans and current service members. Their projects included Operation Shoebox N.J., during which student club officers gave an interview on WRNJ radio to request help collecting toiletries and food items for troops serving overseas; a Veterans Day Tribute Program, honoring family members of students and staff who are veterans; and a “Thank You, Veterans” wall of honor through the month of November, which showcased photos of service members that had been sent in by students and staff in the school’s front lobby. They also participated in letter-writing campaigns, sending sards and letters to a Vietnam veteran on his birthday, and an Army Corpsman serving in Afghanistan.

Additionally, they helped make sure veterans weren’t forgotten during the holidays by decorating a patriotic Christmas tree in the school lobby; sending Christmas cards to residents of the New Jersey Veterans Home in Paramus; and attending “Wreaths Across America,” when wreaths were placed on the graves of veterans buried in the local cemetery. For Valentine’s Day, the club sent a “Thank You” banner to troops in Kuwait and Valentine cards and coloring pages to the N.J. Veterans Home.

The award is given each year to individuals, groups, clubs, schools, and organizations that exemplify a commitment to support, appreciate, acknowledge, and assist causes dedicated to veterans of our armed services. To qualify, applicants must first be nominated and then go through an application process that includes documentation of their efforts.

Students of the Kiwanis Kids Club prepared a scrapbook filled with pictures of each project as well as photos and letters received from recipients of their donations. A special memorial dedication to Donald M. Hendershot, the past commander of the American Legion Blue Ridge Post #164 in Hackettstown was included in the scrapbook.

The club’s staff advisors, Robin Gibbon R.N., M.S., and Debbie Beck, will receive the Americanism Award on behalf of the club this month at the 101^st State Convention of the American Legion in Wildwood, N.J. Gibbon and Beck wish to thank the Kiwanis Club of Hackettstown for continued support in their projects and American Legion Blue Ridge Post #146 for the Americanism award nomination.

In addition to the State of New Jersey Spirit of Americanism Award, the Kiwanis Kids Club of Willow Grove School has also been awarded the highest honor by the Kiwanis International Committee, naming it a “Club of Distinction.” This is the third year in a row the club has been honored with the distinction.