BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – We’re still a few days away from Valentine’s Day, but many of you are already showing the love! Bedford County libraries received an overwhelming response for this year’s “Valentines for Vets” campaign. Cassandra Baldwin, youth services coordinator for Bedford County libraries, thinks so many people participated because of the pandemic. We’re told Bedford libraries usually collect about 200 cards each year. They’ve hosted the “Valentines for Vets” campaign for more than a decade.

ROANOKE, Va. There are 14 active cases of COVID-19 at the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, but the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) said all 14 people are symptom-free. VDVS said they detected the first positive COVID-19 case in a staff member on June 4. In total, eight residents and seven staff members have now tested positive for COVID-19. As of Monday, there were still 14 active cases in the facility, though VDVS said all were symptom-free. The center has put several measures in place to keep residents and staff safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19.

ROANOKE, Va. – The excitement of being in person with loved ones brought many families to tears on Thursday at the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke. These men and women already made sacrifices for our freedom, and now, “They’ve been asked to sacrifice to be away from their loved ones,” said Todd Barnes, administrator for the Virginia Veterans Care Center. “So, this is just another way, among others, that we’ve done to give them the opportunity to see their loved ones,” Barnes said. The administrative parking lot was open so that families could loop around in their cars, wave, honk and blow kisses to their loved ones. It’s such a wonderful thing that they’re doing with this parade.”Aliene Hodges also took part in the parade to see her father Billy Grice.