MOULTRIE, Ga. — Second graders at Sunset School recently wrote friendly letters to soldiers to uplift their spirits through Operation Gratitude.

Students listened to the book “America’s White Table” by Margot Theis Raven. The White Table is set in many mess halls as a symbol for and remembrance to service members fallen, missing, or held captive in the line of duty. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit.

Teacher Alana McCoy provided these copies of the students’ letters.

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Dear Soldier,

We are so thankful for you fighting for us and for all of the U.S.A. You are so brave. Which branch are you in? Are you in the Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, or Coast Guards?

Love, Jaden

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for serving in the military for me. I’m sorry that you can’t come home. Our whole school has been praying that you could come home and spend time with your family. I know you have to fight for our country and I’m sorry that you got to do that. The whole school says, “The Pledge of Allegiance” every morning.

Love, Destinie

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Dear Hero,

Thank you for serving our country. I would like to ask a question. Do you have dogs up where you are? Do you have jets where you are? Thank you for sacrificing for me. I love what you do. You are a great parent and a good one for your kids. You are brave and a hero. You are a great person. It makes me sad because you could be in danger.

Love, Emmanuel

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Dear Hero,

Thank you for your services. I am so thankful for your bravery and honor. I wonder if you have a German Shepard or Belgian Shepard? What branch of the military are you in?

Love, Lucas

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Dear Soldier,

You do a great job and thank you for fighting for me for freedom. I am sorry that you do not get to go home on the holidays. My class learned about the American White Table. I hope you stay safe and thank you for being brave.

Love, Liam

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Dear Soldier,

We hope you get to see your family again soon. We hope your friend wasn’t a P.O.W. We thank you for serving the U.S.A.!!!!! You are the Hero everyone needs!!!!!

From, Zane

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for fighting for our freedom. Thank you for going into war. When can you be home with your family? I am sad that you can’t be with your family. Yesterday my class learned about the American White Table. Every day my class says the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you for being brave.

Love, Ethan

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for fighting in wars and sacrificing your life for me. Have you gotten a purple heart? I believe you have bravery in you. I believe you are an American hero. Our class is learning about America’s White Table. I am sorry you can’t come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in class.

Love, Jameson

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for fighting for me. I’m blessed to be free! America’s White Table is very important to me. You are very brave because if I was in the military I would be scared. I’m sorry for you that you can’t go home. If you are cold or hot, I’m sorry for you. I love to say The Pledge of Allegiance every day. When we pause for a moment of silence, I close my eyes and think about the people who serve in the military. I’m happy that you are brave!

Love, Casia

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for trying your best to save our country. We say the Pledge for you every morning. I’m so sorry that you can’t come to any holidays with your family. Do you know about the white table? There is a black napkin and it stands for death and the salt stands for when you taste a tear. It is salty. There is other stuff too. I want to know this. Are you in danger right now? Your family misses you.

Love, Mia

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you so much for serving in the military to help our country. I am thankful for the fighting the soldiers and other branches do to keep my country safe. Every morning at school we say the Pledge of Allegiance to support the military. I am sorry you can’t come home for the holidays. I am writing this letter to show you how thankful I am for the military.

Love, Mal

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for serving in the military for me. The White Table is about the people who went missing or who could not go home. Is the weather hot or cold? Do you have a German Shepard?

Love, Malakai

P.S. Thank you for being a brave person.

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Dear Soldier,

I know all the branches of the military. You fight for freedom. We get to do what we want to do. We made a white table in honor of the men and women who died. Do you fly an airplane or ride in a tank? Do you have a Humvee? Is it hot or cold? Lots of my family was in the Army. Thank you forever.

Love, Parks

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Dear Loving Soldier,

You are brave. You are kind. You are FEARLESS! You sacrificed your life for all these people in this country. You lived and fought, and the least that we can do is give you our pride. You do what is right when others do not agree. You are one of a kind. No one is against you. There is more than enough things that you sacrificed for in life. I am proud of you.

Love, Navya

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Dear Soldier,

I know you are the best to be a soldier. My Paw Paw was in the Coast Guard but he is dead. Are you doing okay? I hope you are. My class and God love you so so much. I have a present and it is LOVE! Thank you for being brave. My dad is the principal at my school. With my dad and my class we say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.

Thank You, Nora Kate

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for serving in the military. We thank you because you keep us safe. If you can send a note back I would like it. I’m safe because of you. You already know this but some people fight and have to go to the hospital. You will probably live another life later as a veteran. Some others are still fighting. I went home and found out that there was a veteran in my family. He has passed away. Thanks to you I’m free.

Love, Alyssa

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Dear Soldier,

Thank you for serving in the military to let us go to school. We learned what the white table stands for. It stands for if you didn’t come home. Do you get to go home on Christmas? I want to be just like you one day. We say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Thank you for being so brave.

Love, Carter