With Love, From Alta Murrieta Elementary

A prized trophy was returned to students at Friday morning, with a lot of meaning behind it.

The trophy—for the school that makes the most Valentines for Veterans—had been at Tovashal Elementary since last year, but Alta Murrieta students and staff worked hard to get it back by crafting 1,877 of the personalized, heartfelt cards.

Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Stan Scheer made a special appearance to thank the school for making the valentines.

"It is very emotional for me to be here today," said Scheer, who served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1972. "The most important thing a person in the Military does every day is go to mail call. Getting mail when you are in the Military is the most special thing."

It is the third year the contest between schools has taken place. The first year, Alta Murrieta made 250 valentines. The second year, Tovashal joined in and 1,200 were made between the two schools. This year, 6,497 were made between seven elementary schools and one middle school.

is organized each year by the Murrieta Valley Council PTA. This year's school organizer for Alta Murrieta was parent volunteer Zinda Seguin, who served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

"I never got random mail like this" Seguin said. "We are going to touch so many lives."

She said students worked on valentines at home, in class and during lunch time sessions.

Second-grader Kaylee Guzman told Patch she made two valentines. Her uncle is in the Military, she said.

"I wrote 'Happy Valetine's Day'," Kaylee said. "I like being helpful to the veterans. It just makes me feel happy."

Staff also pitched in, staying late after a recent staff meeting. One staff member made 40 valentines, Seguin said.

The cards are being passed to local veterans, and 3,000 of them were en route Friday to troops in Afghanistan on a U.S. Air Force Reserve flight that was set to stop in Germany first.

"They will arrive in Afghanistan by Valentine's Day," said Kelly Breen-Stottman, Murrieta Valley Council PTA Military Chair and contest organizer.

Holding up the trophy during the school's morning flag ceremony, Alta Murrieta Principal Terry Picchiottino said he knows his students are competitive but it was about more than that.

"The best thing about this is that no matter what happens you guys made a difference in someone's lives," Picchiottino said.