OKEECHOBEE — Central Elementary School students riding bus #1503 proudly wore the red t-shirts given to them by the AMVETS Riders of Post 200 on Friday.

Cheryl Benoit, who put the designs on the front and back of each of the 74 shirts said, "We want to remind everyone to think about those who are deployed. We love them and miss them." The AMVETS already wear red shirts on Fridays, but they decided to hold a campaign to raise awareness in the community and thought, where better to start than with the children. The Benoits have a son who will soon be returning from a deployment in Japan. "We miss him every day," said Benoit. "He will be in California which is U.S. soil but not home."

Member Dennis Conner drives bus 1503, and the AMVETS Riders decided that would be a good place to start. The Riders donated the money to purchase the 74 t-shirts needed to outfit every child on the bus, and Benoit got to work putting them together.

Benoit and her husband Jim, who is the commander of the post, were at the school bright and early to greet the children Friday morning as they got off the bus.