CLARKSBURG -- Veterans at the VA Hospital got some special visitors Saturday morning. Five cadets from the Mountaineer Challenge Academy spent some time at the hospital.

The cadets played games, talked, and even played Wii golf with the patients.

The challenge academy is for youth at risk for dropping out of school.

The academy is connected with the national guard and officials say the visit is a good way to pay tribute to our countries veterans.

"We are a program of the guard,"says admissions couselor Bob Morris. "What better way to pay respect to them, then spending time on a Saturday afternoon."

The American Red Cross is also honoring members of the Armed Forces during the month of May.

Greeting cards to thank US military personnel for their service to the country, will be at all of the Red Cross blood donation sites until the end of the month.

Organizers say donors are encouraged to sign the cards. At the end of the blood drive, the signed cards will be shipped to military units deployed overseas.

Organizers say the summer months are an historically difficult time to maintain adequate blood supplies.