I just want to pass this on because it can change someones life. I was in the Air Force during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Was stationed in Jeddah Saudi Arabia where we were preping for B-52s to come in. This was 90/91 and my point is that we got tons of Christmas cards from all over and allot of schools did a class project to send cards. We would just pass by the bins and get a few read them and drop a note back to them. This one I got one day wrote back and even today we are still in contact with each other. I flew her down for my retirement from the Air Force in 2001. I also went to her college graduation 2003 then her wedding 2004 and made her one of my Bridgeport Rockers as a gift. Just saying you don't know how much a simple card means to someone, show them we care! Here is the the card I picked out that day, I still have it!!!!
I am not 100% sure of this, so check it out to keep me honest, but since the renaming of Walter Reed Hospital, i think this program has been changed over to a different address and is running thru the Red Cross. The address i got for this program is now:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, Md 20791-5456
As stated before, double check me on this, but there would be nothing worse then sending Christmas cards, meant with such great thoughts to a dead letter box. Also their suggestions are:
-use a generic salutation, such as "Dear Service Member".
-personally sign each card sent.
-do not include personal email , home address, photos, or other inserts.
- & avoid sending cards with glitter (could be harmful to the health of the recovering soldier).
I hope this helps, another idea is to bundle several cards in one package, make 10 recovering soldiers happy instead of just 1. Bring a smile to a recovering soldier, we owe them so much. bob.
Unfortunatly, both of these address' are bogus. Bad dad's original post turns out to be an urban legend (post office will not delivery anything with a generic "Recovering American Soldier" type label and the one i posted had to be individual cards received by Dec. 7th. I sent a bundle of 20 cards in 1 package and received them back today. Later finding out because of security problems they do not accept bundled cards, a few bucks shot to he11, but it was a great idea. SO, to any SOLDIER out there. wounded or otherwise, let me speak for all of us racing fans, Thanking You for your service & wishing you a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Years, bob & vicki.
I was in Desert Storm Desert Shield also and I remember those cards from kids, and conversed with one for a while also. it was very nice to talk to someone as you said.
