Number of posts : 127 Age : 62 Location : The state of confusion! Registration date : 2008-10-28
Subject: TO SHOW LOVE TO THE TROOPS Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:58 am
TO SHOW LOVE TO THE TROOPS
GREAT IDEA!! When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.
When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue,NW Washington,D.C. 20307-5001
Theresa Admin
Number of posts : 362 Age : 62 Location : Minneapolis MN Registration date : 2008-10-28
Subject: Re: TO SHOW LOVE TO THE TROOPS Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:14 am
It's a beautiful and compasionate gesture, but alas, it is untrue. I had to research this last year as a hoax. BUT - due to so many who tried anyway - The Red Cross made a way for it to happen - read the address at the bottom. There are many legitimate ways to help our incredible military. Thanks Angie!
This message advises recipients that they can send Christmas cards addressed to "A Recovering American soldier" care of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While this might seem like a good way to show support for wounded soldiers, the information in the message is incorrect. Cards sent to "A Recovering American soldier" or similar will not be accepted by Walter Reed Army Medical Center and no soldiers will receive them.
Walter Reed has published an article clarifying the issue, which states in part:
Holiday Cards to Wounded and Recovering Soldiers
Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to 'Any Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' that Walter Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense.
In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered.
Moreover, in its website FAQ, the US Postal Service confirms that only items that include the name and address of the service member will be delivered:
Q. I'd like to send a card to servicemen. Can I just send one to anybody?
A. Only if you have the name and address. Programs that allowed people to send mail to servicemembers unknown to them were discontinued following the terrorist attacks of 2001. Mail addressed as "Any Service Member," "Any Soldier, Sailor, etc." will not be accepted. If this mail is deposited into a collection box it will be returned to sender. Items without return addresses are opened in our Mail Recovery Center Network to determine the sender’s address. If it is impossible to determine the sender’s address, we donate care items to local charities.
Thus, sending holiday greeting cards to "A Recovering American Soldier", "Any Wounded Soldier" or other generic addresses will do no good. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center suggests that a donation would be a much more helpful option:
Instead of sending an "Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil
Update:6th December 2007 As noted above, cards addressed generically to "A Recovering American soldier" care of Walter Reed, will not be delivered. However, on 5th December 2007, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes announced an initiative that allows people to send greeting cards and messages to soldiers via the Red Cross. The following press release provides details of this new initiative:
America's wounded soldiers are always grateful for supportive cards and notes – especially during the holiday season.
This season, communities across America are invited to mail holiday greeting cards along with personal messages of support to wounded service members at military hospitals around the country through a unique partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc.
With the support of the Department of Defense, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and with help from Pitney Bowes Government Solutions, the American Red Cross will collect, review and disseminate holiday greeting cards to wounded military personnel. For security reasons, the Red Cross will only be able to accept holiday cards, not packages. Red Cross volunteers will receive and bundle the cards to be shipped by Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. Then, Red Cross volunteers at military medical facilities will distribute the cards to patients and their families in time for the holidays.
"So many Americans want to show their support and gratitude by reaching out to wounded service members at Walter Reed and other medical centers during the holiday season," said Neal Denton, American Red Cross Senior Vice President for Service to the Armed Forces. "With the support of the Department of Defense, Walter Reed leadership and Pitney Bowes, we can bring a little cheer to those soldiers," added Denton.
"It is an honor to provide this small measure of comfort at holiday time to those who have sacrificed so much," said Pitney Bowes President and CEO Murray Martin. "We want to make it as easy as possible for all Americans to show their appreciation to the men and women who serve this nation so proudly and selflessly."
Holiday cards should be addressed to:
We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
PO Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419
Be sure to affix adequate postage. Cards must be received no later than December 27. Cards received after this date will be returned to sender. Senders are reminded that “care packages” are not part of the program. Cards and notes only – and please refrain from using glitter or any other inserts that would not be appropriate in a hospital environment.
Theresa Admin
Number of posts : 362 Age : 62 Location : Minneapolis MN Registration date : 2008-10-28
Subject: Support our troops links Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:19 am
From the front lines to the home front, the American Red Cross provides service members, their families and veterans with the care and assistance they need. The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For the second year in a row, we’re collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Pitney Bowes is generously donating technology, resources and postage to make this holiday card program possible. Our goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards to spread holiday cheer and facilitate thanks to these brave individuals and families. Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:
Holiday Mail for Heroes PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Number of posts : 127 Age : 62 Location : The state of confusion! Registration date : 2008-10-28
Subject: Re: TO SHOW LOVE TO THE TROOPS Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:16 pm
Thanks for doing the extra homework to clarify that TC, it would be sad to send out anything just to find it never had a true destination to begin with. I usually check through snopes myself, but received that in the middle of a sleepless night, should have just stuck to TV lol, and forgot to. Anf thanks just as much for the link for a good address to work through!
Theresa Admin
Number of posts : 362 Age : 62 Location : Minneapolis MN Registration date : 2008-10-28
Subject: Re: TO SHOW LOVE TO THE TROOPS Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:33 pm
People like you have their heart in the right place.
I was listening to Christmas music on the radio and they played that Josh Groban song with our military sending thoughts home. Always brings tears to my eyes.
Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:53 pm by tee
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