Dearest Valerie,

Thank you so much for your beautiful art work and special message to me! You made my day! God has a special eye on you for being such a blessing to me! Don't forget to dance and be happy, and play and have fun! I will too-

Love,
Cheryl, Rahway NJ

Dear Jason-

Thank you so much for your painted heart! I have proudly hung it on my Christmas tree, near the top to remind me of all the caring people I met during my Cancer treatment. I show it to everyone who comes to visit. I attached a picture of it hanging in the tree.

Although I grew up in New Jersey, I live in the beautiful state of Maine, in the country. We have lots of snow here already and it is beautiful. But I will never forget all of you from New Jersey who have taken the time to make my life a little brighter!!!!

Hope you have a wonder holiday season!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Wendy

Dear Viviana,

I want to thank you so much for the lovely hand painted heart. I received it the other day after completing one of my radiation treatments. It was a wonderful way to end my day. The heart is now hanging in a prominent place in my home where I can see it each day and be reminded of your kindness. Knowing that there are caring people thinking about us really does help patients like me in our recovery. Now, each day that I go for my radiation treatments I will think of you.

You told me in you note that you love school, maybe some day you will become a Dr. and continue to help patients like me. I was happy to hear that you enjoy playing soccer. That was one sport that I enjoyed when I was in school (many, many years ago). Next time you play, score a few goals for me.

Good luck wherever your life takes you, Marlene

Dear Katty,

Thank you so much for the beautiful heart that you painted for me. I am a middle school teacher of Life Science and was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. You heart is lovely and definitely made me smile when I saw it. It now hangs on our tree.

I hope that you too have a very Happy Holidays and thank you again for your kind thought.

Deborah

Hi -

I am writing on behalf of my mother, Felicia. She received a beautifully painted heart from Itay from West Orange.

She has it proudly displayed in her kitchen where she sees it everyday. The message of ''Stay Strong'' is just what she needs during this challenging time.

Please tell Itay to continue having fun playing soccer and to have a very Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for this wonderful act of kindness.

God Bless,
Phyllis, on behalf of my Mom, Felicia.

My father received Kristina's message and artwork. He wanted me to send her a special "Thank-You" for brightening his day and for the words of encouragement. It takes a special person to reach out to others in need.

Happy holidays to you all. Carol

Dear Luke,

I am a cancer patient at St. Barnabas Hospital. Upon the completion of my radiation treatments, I received your very kind present of the beautiful heart. The fact that you created it with your own hands makes it even more special to me.

I want to thank you so very much. It really touched "my heart."

Sincerely, Alan

Dear Christian,

Thank you so much for the wonderful healing heart you made for me - I love it! You are a very special kid to care about others so very much.

Thank you again!
Mike

Dear Alejandra,

Thank you so much for the beautiful heart! I like the colors a lot and you did such a great job with painting it. My name is Else and I have a brain tumor, but I am doing very well. I cried when I saw your beautiful heart, but those were happy tears.

When I was a little girl I liked hopscotch, too, and now my 4 year old granddaughter likes to play it on her sidewalk. I hung your heart in a Christmas wreath on our front door. Everybody who comes to visit can see it there, and they will know that I have a lot of hope because of your kindness. Please tell your teacher "thank you" and that this is a wonderful service.

Have a great Christmas!

In deep appreciation and all my love,
Else

Dear Angelina:

Yesterday I received your beautifully painted heart (Nr. F 237) and note and I do want to thank you. As your art teacher, Mrs. J., knows, it means so much to us that there are people who care. It is something very special to have young people like you tell us that they love and care for others. It helps us get well faster.

Like your teacher I, too, am doing volunteer work with patients because I have experienced this sickness many years before and now have had it the second time around. It feels good to be there for others and give hope and comfort in spite of it all. I am sure when you grow up you will continue to be of help to sick people and make them feel better.

Thank you, my dear,
Your patient friend, Brigitta

Hello Morgan,

Thank you for the very nice ceramic heart and note you made for me. You did a great job and I appreciate them both. That was very nice of you!

I used to make lots of batiks, pottery, drawings, etc. in art class, but unfortunately I stopped taking it after 8th grade. I always regretted that choice because I was good at it and liked making those things. With hindsight, I see that art is just as important as any other activity or class you can take in school. It is good for you, so don't ever let anyone talk you out of continuing your art courses!

We are doing fine here in Iraq. It's very hot and dusty, but this will all be over by the end of 2011. Thank you very much, Morgan, for supporting the American troops in Iraq and have a nice day!

Best Regards, LT Carl

Please pass my thanks to Jenn for a wonderful gift.

We all love them and have hung up our hearts here in Baghdad!

Thanks for thinking of us – Pat

Dear Shannon,

Thank you so much for the heart that you painted for my Husband. He was deployed to Iraq last year and it was a very difficult year for the both of us to get through. Thankfully we had many great supporters like yourself that reminded us that we were alone during his deployment.

We really appreciate you making this heart. It will go on our Christmas tree this year as a reminder of the support my husband has gotten during his deployment!

Thank you,
Abby  Army Wife

Hi Anthony:

My name is Joe, I am 75 years old and a grandpa of 5. I served our country during the Korean War. I am an Air Force veteran and served in the Air Force four four years.

In all the years since my discharge from duty, you are the first person that has thanked me for my service to Our Country. You Are A GREAT AMERCIAN. YOUR HEART WILL BE WITH ME ALWAYS.

Always be a good person, listen to your parents and teachers. "GOD BLESS AMERICA"

YOUR PAL
AIR FORCE JOE

Dear Trudy,

Let me start by apologizing for the lateness of this email. Life has been hectic with the upcoming deployment and other things going on in my life. I wanted to take a moment to write to you and tell you about myself as well as thank you for the heart. My name is 1SG Douglas McNeil. I am the senior Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) for HHC 1-150th Avn Bn, out of West Trenton NJ.

I was honored to receive your hand painted heart and will always look at it and think of what a special gift it was. I will be deploying at the end of January, going to Ft Sill, Oklahoma for training and eventually to Kuwait and then on to Iraq. I belong to an Army Aviation unit and will be supporting the pilots and flight crews as they try to make a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people. Our deployment is supposed to last for a year but it can go longer if needed. I am hoping all goes smoothly and we are back home in 12 months.

I am not much for words, so I am sorry that this email jumps around a little bit. But thank you again for the wonderful heart, it will be hanging on my Christmas tree as soon as I return from Iraq. I hope all is well with you.

Thank you again – Sincerely,
Douglas

Amanda,

My name is Sally. I am the mother of Noah, who is the soldier that was fortunate enough to receive the heart which you painted. Thought I would give you a little background and update on him.

Noah has been in the Army National Guard for nine years. He oversees the maintenance and repairs of the electrical systems of the army helicopters. He is now an E7 which is Staff Seargent. Noah recently married his high school sweetheart, Kristina. Kristina is in her last semester at college getting a double degree in early childhood education and psychology.

We said our good byes to Noah yesterday morning as his unit headed west to another base and is preparing to deploy to Iraq in the next few weeks. This will be his second deployment. We are very proud of him and appreciate that there are people like you who are willing to take the time and remember our soldiers.

Keep up the good work!

Dear Susan,

Thank you so much for the beautiful hearts. They were given to me and my daughters from the death of their father and my ex-husband. We greatly appreciate all the lovely hearts we have received. Please pass this thank you on to all the talented artists.

Thank you - Regards,
Margaret

Hi,

My name is John Leffel of Bechtelsville, PA and I received a Heart of Hope at a Veterans Day Service at Trinity E.C. Church honoring Veterans of the area.

What a Great Idea. I am a Vietnam Veteran. I served in the United States Army from 1966 - 1968 and did a tour of Duty in Vietnam from Feb. of 1967 to Feb. of 1968. The Heart I received at the Veterans Service is #LS-87, painted by Cayla, of Wyckoff, N.J.

I will treasure the Heart of Hope and the Card that Cayla enclosed. I will keep the card in my Army Scrapbook. I will be hanging the Heart of Hope next to my picture taken when I was Veteran of the Day in Walt Disney World, when I was chosen to participate in the flag retrieval ceremony.

My Heartfelt thanks, for the Heart of Hope for Heroes. What a terrific and meaningful project.

Thanks so much for honoring and remembering in this way.

Sincere Thanks,
John