By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake's Monica Milburn had a sweetheart of a senior project.

Milburn, a senior at Sumner High, helped Puyallup Marine mom Vicky Mohler organize Operation Heart to Heart, a program to bring valentines and treats from school children, families and friends to the 9th Communication Battalion Marines deployed in Iraq.

Together they put together close to 550 valentine packages - hundreds of cards and what seemed like tons of candy - in January and shipped them off so the boxes would arrive on the front lines by Valentines Day.

Volunteering her services and getting involved in community projects are part of Milburn's life. Through Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) she's helped with blood drives. As part of a project in her advance placement government class she volunteered with President George Bush's campaign.

Milburn said the project evolved through her relationships with friends who are Marines. It started as a desire to show her support for Marines in Iraq, expanded into adopting a small squad and led to connecting with Mohler and an entire battalion. Mohler is a Puyallup Marine mom whose son is in Iraq. She is project coordinator for steadfasttovictory.com, a Washington state-based, non-profit corporation that is run by a group of volunteers who uses its profits to support troops who are serving America.

Milburn picked up on Mohler's enthusiasm for the project and went to work recruiting friends, family - all her connections - for a massive Valentine card-making campaign.

One of her first stops was her alma mater, Victor Falls Elementary, where she found eight teachers and their students willing to cut and paste colorful, creative greetings for the troops.

"The kids were making the coolest cards," Milburn said. "They said things like 'thank you for being my hero.'"

She also brought in "scrapbook divas" like Joy Buss who work with her at the Bonney Lake Ben Franklin craft store. Buss and her family started making cards too.

Milburn sought out the help of classmates in Sumner High's family and consumer science classes and the active FCCLA which she is a member.

Those Sumner High connections led classmate Paul McGee to involve his mother's class at Auburn Riverside.

And the card-making continued to avalanche. Bonney Lake's Kim Bunker involved the students in the class she teaches at her church. The Victor Falls Ward Young Women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints jumped on board.

Girl Scout troops in California, school children in Wyoming and a woman in Indiana sent cards.

"It was really something, the box loads that came in," Mohler said.

"I just wanted to do something to help someone, something to lift their spirits," Milburn said.

Lift troops spirits is exactly what all those cards did.

"We just got e-mails from some of the troops over there and they've been receiving their valentines and they've enjoyed them," Mohler said. "It was a much needed little boost. That was heart warming to hear."

The e-mails started rolling onto Mohler's screen.

Dear Vicky,

Good News! The Valentines came today! Fifteen big boxes full. The Chaplain came right over and took them to 9th Comm, so the Marines will get a little extra love today. Thank you and thank everyone so much. I peeked in the boxes and everything looked great. I know they will love the Valentines, and it’s one more thing to help make the time pass quicker.

Good Morning from Iraq,

Thanks to all for the great Valentine's Day packages; I got sixteen boxes in the mail today. More than likely I will distribute them to the Marines on the front lines. They will really appreciate everyone’s kindness and thinking of them. Good timing to help boost morale.

Dear Mrs. Mohler,

Thanks for the Valentines Packages for the Marines.

Your support of the Marines of 9th Communication Battalion has been greatly appreciated. As you probably know, part of the Battalion will start our journey back to “The land of and free”, and “The home of the brave” at the end of the month.

Again thanks and God Bless!!

"It's such a small thing, but it means so much for them to know someone is thinking of them and praying for them," Mohler said. "It's something small, but it's really something. It's so important that they know we're proud of them and we support them."

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.