Birches Elementary School Fourth-Graders Hold Annual Abbott-Nelson Memorial Day Bracelet Sale Benefiting Veterans

For Immediate Release
May 30, 2025

Students in Mrs. Nicole Strate and Miss Alaina Julia’s class pose during the Abbott-Nelson Memorial Day Bracelet Sale.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Fourth-grade students in Mrs. Nicole Strate and Miss Alaina Julia’s class at Birches Elementary School were busy for a good cause recently, hosting the annual Abbott-Nelson Memorial Day Bracelet Sale inside the school gymnasium. Benefiting the Washington Township Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the fundraiser offers bracelets for $1 that were made and sold by the students in all of the Birches fourth-grade classrooms. They raised more than $1,100 this year!

Mrs. Strate and Miss Julia helped carry on the tradition started many  years ago by Birches teacher Angelina Haslett, who is currently out on maternity leave. The Abbott-Nelson Memorial Day Bracelet Sale is named after longtime Board of Education member and veteran Bob Abbott, and Haslett’s father, Karl Nelson, who is also a veteran. 

Chief Patrick Gurcsik and members of the Washington Township Police were on hand to purchase bracelets and help with the sale!

Police officers Kevin Convery (left) and Jake Bentsen (right) show off their bracelets alongside Birches teachers Alaina Julia (second from left) and Nicole Strate.

Scenes from the Abbott-Nelson Memorial Day Bracelet Sale.

- WTPS -