Christmas Cards for our troops

[MW]

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please take the time to send something to our troops. I will post all the addresses that I find for the different places.

[MW]

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

[Oceanbreeze]

FYI: every little bit counts!

Good news from the Postal Service. There have been requests from
Family Members to get relief from the cost of mailing care packages to
Soldiers. Regions please pass to ACS. Army Commands please get the
info to your units.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2008 - Military families have long used the U.S.
Postal Service's flat-rate shipping boxes to send care packages around
the globe. Beginning March 3, they'll get a price break.

The discount applies only to the new "Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate
Box," which normally carries a $12.95 price tag for shipping.
However, when the 12-by-12-by-5.5-inch box is sent to an AFO or FPO
address, a $2 discount applies, dropping the cost to $10.95.

"This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price
for our armed forces serving overseas," said Postmaster General John
Potter. "We're proud that family and friends will be able to use the
new, larger-sized box to send much-appreciated packages from home to
our dedicated troops overseas."

The new boxes will be available in post offices nationwide on March 3.
Those who can't wait to start packing the boxes, however, can order
them from www.usps.com/supplies beginning Feb. 20. They're also
available by calling 1-800-610-8734.

Some of the new boxes carry the America Supports You logo. America
Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and
companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and
abroad.

"It's terrific that the Postal Service continues to think of ways to
help Americans support our troops and their families," said Allison
Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal
communication, community relations and public liaison. "Postage is
always a concern when shipping care packages, and this new flat-rate
box means our home-front groups and supportive citizens can do more
with their resources.

"We're especially pleased that some of the boxes will bear the America
Supports You logo, reminding our servicemembers that they have our
nation's support," she added.

The boxes bearing the America Supports You logo will be available only
online or at select post offices near military bases. All flat-rate
boxes are available for international shipping, though the discount
applies only to the large flat-rate box, and only if it's being
shipped to an APO or FPO address.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48964

[Oceanbreeze]

Red Cross “Holiday Mail for Heroes” Program 2008 Guidelines

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce that it will sponsor a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program in 2008 as it did in 2007! Last year the Red Cross reviewed and distributed over 600,000 cards to our wounded servicemembers at hospitals around the country and overseas. This year we want to expand who is reached with the holiday greeting cards to include not only our wounded warriors, but all servicemembers and their families, as well as veterans. Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 persons this year to show our appreciation for their service and wish them well over the holiday season and with your help we will!

 Start Date of the Program: Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2008

 Mailing Address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

 The Guidelines below should be followed to enable a quick reviewing process as well as to ensure that cards are not offensive in any way to anyone who might receive one:
 Please ensure all cards are signed
 Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process
 Please do not include e-mail or home addresses on the cards as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships
 Please do not insert photos, money, religious articles (i.e.-rosary beads, prayer cards, etc), glitter, ‘snow’ or like items in cards as these items will be removed during the reviewing process
 Phone cards or gift cards will not be accepted with cards. Those wishing to send calling cards or gift cards/certificates should go to www.aafes.com, scroll down to “AAFES Community Connection” and click on “Help Our Troops Call Home” or “Gift Cards/Certificates for Our Troops” in order to send such items
 No ‘Care Packages’ will be accepted at this address. Those wishing to send care packages should go to www.AmericaSupportsYou.com and click under “Homefront Groups” to find out how to send care packages
 Participants are requested not to send more than 25 cards from any one person or 50 cards from any one group.
 Note-All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums

 End Date of the Program: All cards must be postmarked not later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Mail postmarked after this date will be returned to sender.