Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
The Clermont Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Post 5277 has been working with their neighbor, Clermont Magic Moments Learning Centers to honor veterans throughout the year. The children usually create Christmas and year-end holiday greeting cards to help support the veterans with cheer and good wishes.
With the challenging COVID-19 pandemic this year, VFW Quartermaster Robert ‘Bob’ Farrell and Cheryl Rydzewski, the Magic Moments Director of School Aids Programs collaborated on how to best celebrate the season. They knew the children could not personally see and distribute their holiday wishes this year. Plus, they already had plenty of extra birthday and Christmas cards from earlier donations. With 4 of their instructors and 30 students participating, they still wanted to bring some magical holiday cheer to the veterans as they came to the VFW Center. Together, they decided to create a new community art project to safely honor the South Lake area veterans by having the students decorate their sidewalks with original artwork. They knew this new project could be enjoyed by the entire community, especially when folks would come to the VFW for Friday Bingo games, Toys for Tots and other year-end events.
Bob Farrell of the VFW noted, “Usually the teachers in the Magic Moments School ask their kids if they want to make cards for our veterans for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Christmas. This year, our VFW received over 100 cards from a disabled veteran for all three holidays. We always share the cards and gifts with our locally hospitalized veterans, especially in the Lake Baldwin and Lake Nona Hospitals, plus the Clermont Health & Rehab Center. We always send all of our extra cards to our military serving overseas to help cheer up those who protect all of us here in America. I said it might be nice if the children could do some creative holiday art on the sidewalks where everyone in the community including the veterans, our Auxiliary and of course — their parents would be able to see some work they do for veterans. Commander Ron Chappo and I loved it!”
Cheryl Rydzewski of Magic Moments shared, “Our children love working on projects to support our South Lake area veterans throughout the year. This year, we created some stencils for the children to decorate and color in with chalk. This project took several days to finish and it was well worth the effort.
Magic Moments offers a safe and comfortable family-style learning environment for infants through fifth grade. Magic Moments is nationally accredited by the National Association of Child Care Professionals and by APPLE – the Florida Association of Child Care Managers. These national accreditations mean lower staff to child ratios. Magic Moments Learning Center is located in Downtown Clermont at 885 West DeSoto Street, Clermont, FL 34711 above the VFW post on the lower level– 352- 394-0533. Magic Moments Too Is located at 980 West DeSoto Street
Clermont, FL 34711 – 352-243-6811. For more information on Magic Moments, visit: https://magicmomentslearning.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/Magic-Moments-Learning-Centers-196583840447071/timeline/.
William Alfred Suggs Memorial VFW Post 5277: The Clermont Veterans of Foreign Wars — VFW Post 5277 believes in good citizenship to help foster patriotism. Coming soon on January 9, they will celebrate their annual youth scholarship awards presentation program to help honor our local students while reflecting on our nation’s history, ideals, principles and their own experiences. By working alongside America’s youth and instilling a sense of patriotism here in the South Lake area of Florida has always been and will always be a VFW priority. For more information about VFW membership, events, fundraisers and scholarships, contact Robert Farrell at 352-250-2052, 352-394-5424 or by email at: RFarr47938@aol.com. Visit the local VFW Post at the lower level of 855 West Desoto Street, Clermont, FL 34711. Visit: https://vfw5277.org.
