Send Holiday Cards to Recovering Troops

12/14/2007 Stephen L. Betts   Thousands of holiday cards have been pouring in to the American Red Cross for delivery to hospitalized service members nationwide and overseas. Randy Travis and his wife, Elizabeth, heard about the program and decided to send hundreds of personalized cards to recovering wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. “Holiday cards and greetings are an ideal way to thank our brave service members and soldiers for all that they do for this country,” says Randy.  “I encourage all Americans to take a few minutes to participate in this worthy program – a little note can really go a long way and I know that our troops would appreciate the meaningful messages and well wishes.” This holiday season, communities across America are invited to mail cards along with personal messages of support to wounded service members who will be spending their holidays at military hospitals. Red Cross volunteers are gearing up to sort and hand-deliver tens of thousands of cards to military hospitals across the country this holiday season. In addition, cards will be sent to five Red Cross offices in the combat zones including Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait and to the regional medical center in Landstuhl, Germany. Pitney Bowes Inc. will bundle and ship the cards to these Red Cross locations.  Schools, scout troops, other groups and corporations are actively participating in the program and sending bundles of cards for delivery to the troops.  If you’d like to get involved, please send cards to: We Support You During Your Recovery! c/o American Red Cross P.O. Box 419 Savage, MD 20763-0419 Cards must be postmarked by Dec. 24, 2007. Cards received after Dec. 27 will be returned to the sender. Be sure to affix adequate postage. Multiple cards without envelopes may be placed in one mailing envelope or a box that includes a return address. Senders are reminded that “care packages” are not part of the program – send only cards and notes. Also, please refrain from using glitter or any other inserts that would not be appropriate in a hospital environment.