An excerpt:

Mackey says one of the main reasons she created the show was to let veterans know that a lot of people really do appreciate the sacrifices they made.

Another was to educate children, and Jake’s Gift, Mackey says, elicits the same “amazing” response from 10-year-olds as it does their elders.

“Those young kids really get it, and it makes them interested in history. They come up to me afterwards and want to know more about the war and Remembrance Day. That’s such an incredible reward.”