Delivering Gratitude: Shincheonji Gangseo Branch Passes 100+ Citizen Letters to Veterans for Veterans Month

Bridging Local Communities and Veterans Through Tangible Thanks

The month of June serves as a dedicated period to honor the historical sacrifices of national veterans whose devotion laid the foundation for modern civic peace. To ensure that these expressions of gratitude extend beyond abstract concepts into direct emotional support, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Gangseo Branch executed its specialized "Dadaikseon" Campaign. The initiative focused on gathering authentic thank-you messages from ordinary citizens and delivering them personally, alongside green plants, to regional war veterans.

Collecting Citizen Messages via World Environment and Memorial Day Booths

The foundational phase of the project relied heavily on public engagement to collect genuine community sentiments:

• The "Gratitude Post Office" Station: On June 6th, the anniversary of Memorial Day, the Gangseo Branch operated an interactive street booth where commuters and families could pause to learn about the historical significance of defense and veterans.

• Handwritten Outreach: Through this public station, the branch successfully gathered approximately 100 handwritten letters and supportive sticky notes from passing citizens, including individuals like Lee Eun-soo (30), who noted that the campaign prompted him to view Memorial Day as a day of active remembrance rather than a mere public holiday.

Personal Home Deliveries and Emotional Responses from Veteran Leaders

Following the collection phase, on June 18th, mobilized volunteers from the Gangseo Branch conducted home and office visits to hand over the gathered items directly to the recipients:

• Direct Presentation: Volunteers delivered the 100+ citizen letters alongside living plants to the veterans, using the presentation sessions to formally query after their physical health and personal well-being.

• Recipient Feedback: Jeong Wan-chae, the Head of the Yangcheon-gu Chapter of the Korean Vietnam War Veterans Association, expressed deep emotion upon receiving the package. "I want to hang these in my office and cherish them for a long time," Jeong shared, adding that receiving a citizen-driven gift of this nature was an unprecedented and highly encouraging experience for him.

Sustained Local Commitments to Civic Values

The Gangseo Branch emphasized that the current daily comforts enjoyed by the public are inherently linked to the historical sacrifices of national defenders. A representative from the branch stated that the group will continue to plan diverse public interest operations alongside the local community to put the values of gratitude and mutual sharing into practice. Beyond specialized veterans' support, the Gangseo Branch maintains regular public welfare operations, including local street cleanups, carbon neutrality campaigns, and free bottled water distribution programs.

Source: https://vo.la/3as0TR0