In the Dumbarton Middle School gym Wednesday, Kelly Makowske, an eighth-grader at Dumbarton and a Towson resident, spoke from the heart as she read a letter to a crowd that included Gov. Martin O’Malley, his wife, Katie O’Malley, hundreds of fellow students and other state and county officials.

Makowske’s letter wasn’t meant for any of them; it was written to a veteran she’s never met.

“Even though I don’t know you,” she read, “you inspire me.”

The O’Malleys joined state Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, County Executive Jim Smith, County Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, county Superintendent Joe Hairston and others at Dumbarton on Veterans Day to launch “Operation Appreciation” — a statewide campaign in which Maryland students write letters, thanking veterans, military personnel and their families for their service to the country.

“You cannot write enough letters or say thank you enough,” the governor told the students.

The letters are being collected and distributed by Blue Star Families, a nonprofit that provides support services to military families.

In Maryland, the campaign is promoted by Katie O’Malley, Grasmick and Brig. Gen. James Adkins, commander of the state’s Army and Air National Guard.

Nancy Fink, principal at Dumbarton Middle, noted that both of her parents served in World War II, and added, “We all have ties to veterans.”

Hairston agreed, describing himself a “military brat,” and said his father was awarded a Purple Heart, the military decoration awarded to those who have been wounded while serving.

Gov. O’Malley said, “My dad flew 33 missions over Japan in a B-24 Liberator.”

And Smith reminded the audience that Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who was not at the ceremony, has been both an active and reserve member of the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq in 2004.

The county executive said that while letters written by students are “a simple gesture,” they mean a lot to veterans, military personnel and their families.

“We must never let them forget how grateful we are for their service and sacrifice,” Smith said.

Dumbarton students submitted about 300 letters to the program. Grasmick said students were presented with an opportunity to learn.

“When we do this, we’re learning something about the history of our country and the value of our military,” she said.

Eighth-grader Christina Kearns, a Woodlawn resident whose twin sister, Cynthia, also attends the school, took the podium to read a letter she wrote for a child with a military parent.

“I know that it’s painfully hard for you. You have been courageous knowing that your parent is doing what is best,” Kearns said.

“You are truly a hero.”

After the ceremony, Kearns and Makowske talked about the letters they wrote.

“I feel like I can connect with children who are without a parent — to make them feel better,” said Kearns.

Makowske said she wanted the veteran who would receive her letter to understand that his or her significance has not faded.

“Their work is over, but they’re still very important to this country,” she said.

Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, public affairs officer for the Maryland Army and Air National Guard, said he hadn’t previously heard of a letter-writing campaign that targeted not only soldiers, but families and veterans as well.

“I think that the families are often overlooked,” Kohler said. “I know it was difficult on my family when I was deployed.”

Kohler said that while soldiers are trained and prepared for deployment, families are not.

“The families are unwilling volunteers. It happens upon them — they don’t have a choice in the matter,” he said.

He also spoke fondly of the letters from his own experiences. Kohler remembered feeling humbled when he received letters from strangers while deployed.

“I always took the time to write back … to make sure they knew it was appreciated,” Kohler said.

“It’s nice to get recognized for doing something that you love so much.”

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