For many years, the Times and the Star have run Letters to Santa from school children, affording readers an opportunity to peer into the hearts of the minds of youngsters during the Christmas season. This year, we are again offering them to readers, but with a twist on the tradition.

The idea comes from a program put in place by Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez called “Holiday Letters to Heroes.” The idea is to encourage Florida’s K–8 students to handwrite holiday letters to the men and women who are deployed or on state active duty in the Florida National Guard this holiday season. She has a partnership with the Florida Department of Education to collect and send letters to support military service members. Students are also encouraged to include drawings that share the holiday spirit in their letter.

The Times and the Star is honored to present a sampling of these letters from Franklin County’s two public schools. The letters have been sent off to military units so that members of the armed forces will have an opportunity to have their Christmas holiday brightened and made a bit less melancholy.

Apalachicola Bay Charter School

FIRST GRADE

Dear soldier my name is Haynes. I am in first grade in abc school. I really hope you have a happy christmas. Thank you for serving our country,

Love Haynes.

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Dear Soldier My name is Kierran. I hope you have a merry christmas.

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Dear soldier

My nam is Avery. I hope you hav a good Christmas an I hope you a good Christmas. 

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Dear soldier,

I wish you a nice Christmas

My name is Darius.

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Dear Solider

My name is trenton. I love you. You are the best. I wish you a Merry Christmas. 

Love trenton

I like guns

Merry Christmas

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My name is Hazlie Turrell

I feel bad but I am from Abc School. Can i know your name!

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My name is Skyla. 

I am sorry you can not be home with your family. I am so sorry i hope you have a merry christmas you are wiho your family.

Love you love skyla

THIRD GRADE

To Soldier

Hi I madalynn

i’m sorry you can’t be with some of your family, but thank you for your service,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Dear soldiear 

Hi im cooper

Sorry you couldent make it home for Xmas thank you for serving our country. And thanks for saving our country.

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Dear soldier

My name is Taten 

Thank you

Mare Christmas

Country service

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From blake to soldier

Good luck soldier with your war Keep fighting you are country stay strong

Keep fath hera!

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Carlyn

Dear Soldier. My name is Carlyn. Thank you for your service. Marry Christmas. I hope you like it.

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Hi my name is Keagen an I’am sorry you can’t see your family so I am writing this note and hope you have a vary mary Christmas and thank you for your service.

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Love – Lizet

Dear Solder

My name is Lizeth. I wish you a merry Christmas I’m sorry you can’t see your family so here is a present to wish you a Merry Christmas on back Thank You for evretinhg you dond for us. What do you call a fish frozen….fishacole

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Dear soldier, My name is Maverick Thank you for your service happy Christmas

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Hay na nam is Ryder I am star if you cant see yor famle. Than you are counnsotty for kind for er country. 

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Hi. My name is Alexa and im sorry you can’t be with your family and I wish you could see your family and I just wonna let you know that your family will have a lot I mean a lot of presents when you go back home we will wish you well out there so you dont die I hope and everyone will wish you a merry Christmas and thank you for protecting us do well out there

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Good luck out theer Kep faith Stay strong owt theer Kip fath in you seph bey Saif owt theer hoeraw.

Frum Wyatt

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I’m sorry that you cany spend time with your family because your fighting for me and other people.

From Sophia

FOURTH GRADE

Hi my name is Aliyah and I just want to say I hope you have a great Christmas. And thank you for serving and perteking us. And I am sary that you can’t see your family. I have a joke for you to make you smile. Wy do fish live in salt water – because Peper makes you snez.

Sincerely, Aliyah

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Dear Soldier thank you for your service and thanks for all the nights you put your life on the line and I am sorry you can’t be with your family and I still hope you have a merry Christmas. From Ki’Lyne

Have a good Christmas

Love Ki’Lyane

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Dear soldier,

My name is Khylan. Thank you Christmas have a good christmas thank you for your service.

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Dear Solider

My Name is Kaylee Ellerson

And i fell bad that you can’t see your family for Christmas but i wanted to wright this letter to tell you. I am so happy that you help are country and that can help us and that you put your life out for us and i wish you a merry Christmas and i just have think you all and i am sorry that you can’t be whith you family but thank you for you all and get what you whant for christmas is your family and i thank you for that and think you so much and next year you see your family next but yeah you guys are amazing people but I thank you so much for surviving are people you are amazing. And again my name is Kaylee Ellerson.

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Dear Solider

My name is: Karsyn. Thank you for serving and fighting for our country. Im sorry that you won’t see your family this Christmas I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I am thankful and proud of you guys for fighting and supporting our country. Thank you so so much. This Christmas might be hard for you I wish you lucky, have a nice Christmas! Have a holly jolly Christmas it’s the best time of the year! Be safe and careful. I apprcate you!! I will wish you luck you and the othor people must also be nice and safe like you!! Once again thank you so much for serving us!!!

From: Karsyn

to : Soldier

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Dear soldier

Hi my name is Michael and my family and I we thank you for serving are country. Thank you and hope you have a great Christmas.

From Michael

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Dear Soldier

My name is: israella McMichen. 

Merry Christmas

Thank you for being a good solier. Thankful for yall fitting for our country have a good Merry Christmas

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Dear Soldier, I know you can’t see your family. I promise I will pray for you because, I Know your alone. I pray for God to be with you and protect you thank you for protecting the U.S. Merry Christmas. God be with you.

From: Noah Jaxson Tarantino

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Dear soldier My name is Khayden Smith. I hope you get home in time to surpise your family so you can have this xmas with them thank you for serving in the military to protect our state, our people and the animals I wish you all my luck to you so you will survive and get out of the military. 

Love Khayden

We all Love you.

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From kyson

M orrey Chricmay thaky you for your servace.

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I am sorry you are lonely but dear soldier my name Kevin I wish you a merry Christmas I hope you will return to your family and thank you self for your service have a Merry Chriustamas.

Love Kevin

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My name is tripp and I hope you have a Good day. Thank you for serving our country and I hope you have a good Christmac. 

Love Tripp

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Dear soldier, my name is arian Jones. Thank you for your service im sorry you can’t see your family and your also here for us im so sorry you can’t spend Christmas with your family and any other holiday and i hope you get to see your family again. P.S.

From Arian Jones.

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Dear Soldier

My name is: Aubree 

I just want to say thankl you for serving and fighting for our country. And know this is hard to miss Christmas with your family. Thank you for not giving up on us Please know thatg we love you. Your family loves you you know mabey we have something in common I want to be a soldier. Merry Christmas!! Please look on back

FIFTH GRADE

Dear Soldier

My name is Charlotte. Thank you for your Service. I hope you have a good what not good GREAT Christmas. I Hope you are Happy When Christmas is near. The point of this letter is to make you happy and What you did for us I Just want to say thank you for our service

Love Charlotte

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Dear Soldier

My name is Tommy. Thank you for your Service. Sory you can’t be with our family but you will always be in our family heart and they will all ways thank you for our service.

Merry Christmas from Tommy

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From Breon

I wish you could be with your family for Christmas, I loved what you did all of us and your kids and your family. I hope you can come back to your family and make them happy and proud. Wish you a Marry Christmas.

Agin, Love E Breon

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Dear Soldier

I am very sorry that you will not be able to spend Christmas with your family. I hope this card will cheer you up. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Joke – What do you call the most selfish underwater creature

Answer – The shellfish

From Kai

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Dear Solder My Name is Jostin. I wish you were with your family but thank you for purtecting us. 

From Jostin

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Dear Solder I am sorry you cant spent Christmas whith your family and friends, So I hop this make you feel better. I hop you know that your family and friends Love you and miss you. And just so you know all of the world Loves you so thank you for pretktetteing our world.

From Aubrry

Love You

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Mery Christmas

Dear Soldier My name is Kelsey I’m sorry you can’t be with your family for Christmas. Alsi I hope you have a great Christmas. Thank you for helping our country. I hope you know your family is very proud of you and they love you. And we think you for protecting us. I will also make a Christmas tree for you. I hope this makes you feel better. Thank you for your services.

From: Kelsey King

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To: Soldier

Merry Christmas

Dear Soldier.

My name is Jescelyn Brannen. Thank You Christmas country service

Heres a little note ~~ We would proeaply not be a free country if it wasn’t for you

Love Jescelyn

SIXTH GRADE

Merry christmas

Thank you for your service and everything you have done for us all + thank you for fighting for my freedom. You are the everyday hero! I’m sorry you cant be with you cant be with your family but I hope you have a wonderful day and your holidays are filled with joy! I am praying for you and I am so thankful for all that you do. Stay safe and come home soon! Thank You! 

From Elijah

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Merry Christmas

Dear Service Member,

Thank you for serving our Country 

and for your sacrifice to our Country. 

I wish you the best luck. 

Be happy and healthy.

Stay safe. Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas

from : Sofiia Prysshcepa.

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Dear Service Men

Hello, I just wanted thank you for your service to our country,. I get to do things that some people don’t because you fought for our independence and I am forever grateful. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Xoxo Easton

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Dear Service member. Thank you for all you do for our country! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and get to see your family. Thank you for risking your life to protect us. Merry Christmas!

Signed Shasta Butler

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Merry Christmas! And thank you for your Service. protecting our country, giving us hope in these hard times, and taking the risk! I appericate you! Merry Christmas! I also hope you can visit your family! What’s your fav color?

Mines Blue!

Cornelia Jansen

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Merry Christmas

Thank you being a brave service man to protect our country. Thank you for being there for our country without you we wouldn’t be protected. I hope you have a Merry Christmas where ever you are and I hope you are safe. Merry Christmas

From Bam

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Kenton Thank you for your service

Merry Christmas to all the soliders 

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Merry Christmas to all the soliders that have to be deployed during the holidays and and wont be home to see family open gifts and have free time. I hope you stay safe while deployed. the lord will always be by your side. He will make sure you make it home safe so you can spend time with your family when you make it back home. I also hope you get what you want when make it back home safe. And thank you for your service and keeping our country safe. May the lord be with you at all times . once again thank you for your service

Merry Christmas

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Hi, I hope you are doing well I am sorry you don’t get to see your family for chrismas. I dont get to see my brother for Chrismas cause is in Japan. I will see him soon though, and you will see your family to. Thank you for keepink us safe from danger. I hope you have a awsome chrismas and a happy new year

Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas and Im sorry you can’t be with your family but I would to tell you thank you for fighting for our country and outting your life so the line and I hope you reern safely and healthy and I really hope you come home safe, and Merry Christmas and hope you have a fun Christmas with your friends.

Love, Adyson

SEVENTH GRADE

Merry Christmas

Dear you, Merry Christmas I hope you have a good one/

I thank you for your Service and I have a cuple jokes for you and I hope you like them. Why can’t the toilet paper cross the road? It got stuck in a crack! OK ready? Why do we tell actors to break a leg? Because every play has a cast! Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! I really hope you enjoyed this letter. Share it with people around you I would like to make them smile too in this hard time.

From Temperance

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Merry Chirstmas to you and all your comrades in your unit

My father was in a war he suvived it like you will so you can see family and friend and celebrate with them you can do this

Sign by Elijah

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Dear Service Members

I hope you have a very merry Chistmas and a happy new year! Thank you so much for your service! It is good to know we have people like you to service or protect us. Once again I hope you have a very merry Chistmas and a happy new Year!

Sincerely

FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS

Dear hero

My name is Colt I 10 and I in the fourth grade. I live in Florida my favoriate animal is a dog because they protect me and they play with me and I like Christmus and I want a pit bull to protect me and I wish for you to have a good Christmas and thank you for your sacrificeing your life for mine and your my hero!

Love Colt

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Dear Hero

My name is Brody. I’m 10 years old. 

I live in Florida.

My favorite food is lobster my favorite animal is my dog.

Christmas is about family and Jesus. 

I wish you win.

THANK YOU!

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Dear Hero

I hope you can see your family and friends and Jesus is with you and we love you and my name is Anna and Mory Christmas.

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Dear Hero

Hi My name is A’london I am 10 years old. I live in Florida and my favorite thing to do is play in the snow and eat a lot of food and candy and my favorite pet is cats and dogs. Christmas is soo special to me because my family comes to viste and I get to open present.

And one more thing

Thank you for ever thing.

Merry Christmas

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Dear Hero,

My name is Lillymae My age is 9 years old and I live in Florida and my favorite animal is is a Panda because tehry jast so cut and fluffy my faverit food is lasagna because it is chees and loodie and good to me and I also love Christmas because it Jeses birthday and taking about Christmas I hope you have a grate Christamas and I hope yo no that you’re the reason our are couchry is a safe plase and thank you for all youve done for us.

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Dear Hero,

My name is Conner age 10. I live in FL. Favorite thing is family. What Christmas means to me is Jesus birthday I wish for you to com back safe.

THANK YOU

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Dear hero

My name is Nevaeh. I’m 10 year old and I live in Florida. My favorite animal is cat’s because ther cute and they and be your best friend. Christmas means something to you it means to me. Love and kindness and spending time with your love ones and I hope wen you go home you make it safe. And 

Thank you!

Love Nevaeh

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Dear Hero,

My name is Tallya. My age is 9. I don’t know what your favorite thing is but mine is the snow because I can build a snowman. I know you can not be with your family but I will tell you what Chrismas means to me. It means to Celbrate Jeses birthday I wish for you to win the war and get to your family safly. Thank you for sacrificeing your life for mine PS you are the best.

Thursday 12-7-23

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Dear hero

I hope you have a great day/ the army sounds fun I want to be in the armey some day. I hope you make it home to your family. I hope you will be OK. grate day to you and thank you for your surves. Love braxton

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Dear Hero,

I live in Florida and I am 9 years old my favorite food is pizza and my favorite animal is a swan and I’m in 4th grade and Christmas means to me is to spend time with family thank you for saving me thank you so much.

Love Delilah

What is Christmas like to you

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Dear Hero,

My name is Callie and I an 10 year old and my favorite holiday is Christmas and I live in Florida. What Christmas means to me is family and you. I hope you get to see your family. You are the best person iun the word.

Love, Callie

THANK YOU

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Dear Hero

My name Quentin and mine 10 years old and I live in Florida and my favorite sport is football Because it is intsent. Christmas means to me is family friends and novena i wish the solider is is not file them make it home. THANK YOU! Love Quentin

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Dear Hero,

My name is Alivia and I am 10 years old.

I live in Florida. My favorite animal is a dog because they are cute and cuddly.

What Christmas means to me is to be thankful, kind and to be loving.

I wish that you stay safe because I would be scard but confint like you in the war.

Love – Alivia

Thank you for your service.

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Dear Hero

I’m Xavier. Im 9 yr old. I liv in Florida. I hope god helps you god loves you. my favorite food is ribs and animal is a lion Chismus means to me spend time with family I wish wish god helps you and frands. Thank you. Love xavier

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Dear Hero, 

I am Brantley I am 9 years old. I live in Florda. My favorite animal is a black panther because it is very fast and Christmas means spend time with love ones and Jesus’s birthday I wish for you to spend time with your parint’s and brother and sister. Thank you.

Love Brantley

Thank you

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Dear hero

My name is Sven im 9 years old. I live in florida my favorite animal is a dog Cristmas means a lot to me I wish you could go home to your family. Thank you!

Love Sven

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Dear Hero

my name is Hunter.

I live in Florida I am a 4th grader.

My favorite thing to do is florida is swimmy favrate animal is the giant manta ray.

Christmas too me is celephating Jesus’s birthday.

I hope all of you can see your family can can get home safe.

Thank You! I made u a Christmas tree on the back I respect u all and thank u for your sacrifice.