Thank you for making our December a special one for our military families, adopted soldiers, and for honoring those who served whether by sponsoring or laying a wreath, donating to a care package, or through the gift of prayer.

Please remember and pray for our service members who are deployed this Christmas and their families who anxiously await their return home. We especially pray for those who have not made it home this year in defense of our nation and their families who have an empty seat at Christmas.

DECEMBER 2023

Holiday Care Packages for Adopted Soldiers

“Our life spreads light when it is given in service. The secret of joy is living to serve.”

- Pope Francis

The St. Louis School & Preschool community embraced this spirit of service and thus felt the joy of giving in our Adopt-A-Solider Care Package drive. Through your overwhelming generosity, we were able to send 2 holiday care packages to each of our adopted soldiers.

We also included a pair of our St. Louis School Purple Socks, beautiful and heartwarming cards and letters created by our students to spread holiday cheer, and prayer cards to show our sincere appreciation for the daily sacrifices they make on our behalf. We would like to extend a special “Thank You” to Father O’Hare for Mass cards that he prepared for each soldier to add to their induvial care packages. We hope that these care packages make their spirits brighter this holiday season.

Saturday, December 16th, 8am-12pm

While we are not formally meeting as a group, we invite you to volunteer to lay wreaths at Arlington National Cememtery on Saturday. Please visit the cemetery website for details about the morning, including important information about parking.

At this time, our school community sponsored 275 wreaths, exceeding our goal by 25 wreaths! We are humbled and honored to pay our respects this Saturday. Our wreath sponsorship page remains active year-round, and anyone can sponsor a wreath at any time in preparation for next year. Between December 16th and January 16th, the Wreaths Across America organization will match 1 to 1 all wreath sponsorships received during that timeframe.

Purple Star Project

Our Purple Star Project students visited classrooms and helped the students’ select items from our donations to place in the soldier care boxes and students added their special letters and cards. The classes thoughtfully selected items based on their Adopted Soldiers location, likes, and needs. Our packages were shipped for Christmas delivery.

Military Spotlight:

Washington Wizards Military Appreciation Night - Dec. 15, 7pm

The Washington Wizards will host their annual Military Appreciation Night on Friday, December 15th when the Indiana Pacers visit the Capital One Arena. As part of the Wizards’ continued effort to celebrate and acknowledge those who have served, this season the Wizards have donated more than 7,850 tickets to military veterans and their families. In honor of the night, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Wizards City Edition-themed camo beanie.

Two service members from Joint Base Andrews will participate in the delivery of the game ball. During halftime, a military basketball scrimmage/mini “All-Star” style skills competition will take place with service members from Fort Belvoir.  

Military members and supporters looking to attend this game can purchase tickets HERE. Fans who purchase tickets through this link will receive a Wizards military challenge coin while supplies last. 

Dec. 15

Washington Wizards Military Appreciation Night Game

Dec. 15

Submissions to EFM for soldier homecoming (see below)

Dec. 16

Wreaths Across America

Exceptional Families of the Military (EFM)

EFM is looking for a service member who will be returning from a deployment or long separation around December 15th for a special homecoming surprise.

Please contact Austin Carrigg at [email protected] for more information. This event is specific to the National Capital Region, but not limited to EFMP families.