Our hearts are full here at the Nether Providence Police Department, thanks to dozens of handwritten cards we recently received from first-, third- and fourth-grade students at Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School.

Offered as thank-you messages for keeping them, their school and even the world safe, this week we are likening the cards to our own special collection of Valentines. We thank every student who took the time to compose them.   

Students like Marlee, who wrote, “Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for always helping people. Thank you for being so nice all the time.” She even drew a big red heart with xoxo below it, and a badge that read, “Officer love.”

Or Oliver, who wrote, “Thank you for all that you do for our school. If I could, I would hug you.”

Faith and Courtney also used hearts to embellish their cards.

Faith’s message, with slight editing we also used on others to make for clearer understanding: Thank you for everything you do. You are amazing. You save us. We love you.”

Courtney wrote, “Thank you for taking care of this state.”   

Some cards were very colorful, including a few with a patriotic theme, like the one from Rocco.

“Thank you for protecting our city,” he wrote.

Some messages were long, while others were short and to the point, but all equally sweet.

The young authors used words like smart, kind, good, awesome, coolest, brave and hero. All but a few of the cards were signed, “Your friend.”

“You rock,” wrote Sophia.

“You are amazing, very skilled at your job,” wrote Ryan.

“Thank you for your service. You are so helpful for the state. I am so thankful for you,” Alex wrote.

One student, Sonny, included images of a police officer, firefighter and emergency medical service person waving.

 “Thank you for protecting people and arresting bad guys. And good job being tuff,” Adrian wrote.

“You always help every person every day,” wrote Andrew.

One student wrote a poem that read, “Roses are red, violences are blue, but do you know how much we appreciate you?”  We think he meant to say violets, but if it were a color, we decided violence could be blue, too.

All but a few of the cards were signed, “Your friend.”

The cards are on display on the police department’s all-occasion tree outside Chief David Splain’s office.

“Know that every card has been read,” Chief Splain said. “We think you all rock, too.”