Send season’s greetings to American soldiers and veterans - A final lesson in thankfulness

November 29, 10:50 AMGainesville Family Entertainment ExaminerDana Newsome

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Take a few moments, and a few extra cards, and send them to Holiday Mail for Heroes by the Red Cross

Copyright Dana Newsome (2009)

The Thanksgiving Holiday week is almost over - the turkey is gone, holiday shopping has begun and the decorations are going up. Many are also starting the task (or chore) of holiday card writing, signing, licking, addressing, stamping and mailing. This year, Americans should add a special address to their mailing list - Holiday Mail for Heroes by the Red Cross.

Chapter 4: Send season's greetings to American soldiers and veterans - A final thankfulness lesson for the week.

The Red Cross has partnered with Pitney Bowes, Inc for the third year to help bring holiday wishes to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad. The Red Cross receives the cards and Pitney Bowes screens them all for hazardous materials. Then volunteers distribute the cards to service men and women and veterans across the country. (And they provide the postage!)

The military has strict requirements regarding packages and mail for soldiers, and usually will not accept mail for general service members, but the Red Cross has specific guidelines to help ensure your cards will make it to the men and women serving our country.

Do...

• Sign all cards
• Entitle cards "Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran"
• Limit cards to 15 per person or 50 for school class or business group
• Bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes (there is no need to include individual envelopes and postage for cards)

Don't...

• Send letters
• Include personal information such as home or email addresses
• Use glitter - excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients
• Include inserts of any kind as they must be removed in the screening process

Packages of cards should be mailed to:

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

All cards must be received by Monday, December 7th, so be sure to involve your family in this effort this week to make sure your cards will make the deadline. Join this effort and you'll join celebrities, like Amy Grant, who support the program.

This final activity of the Thanksgiving Survival Guide is an ideal way to wrap up a week of celebration with family and lessons of thankfulness.