We've read in several blogs and probably seen the e-mails that we should be sending out Christmas Cards to "A Recovering American soldier" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Like many other well intentioned FWD messages on the internet, that's not what we should be doing. The U.S. Postal Service will not accept mail addressed this way, because it could be providing a conduit for those who might do harm to armed services members.
Officially, here's the link to Walter Reed's statement: (It's a PDF file) : Click Here For The File
It's a great idea, but currently the Red Cross is about as close as you'll get to doing something similiar. I got this courtesy of LivingWaters.com e-mail newsletter:
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center is ONLY accepting phone cards, CDs, individual small packets of candy, things like that; which they will distribute among the soldiers (as they have a lot of in and out patients). They are not accepting Christmas cards, as they don't have the human resources to distribute them.
You may send your packets to:
American Red Cross
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20307-5000
Otherwise, do a little more work and find a neighbor, co-worker, or anyone you know who knows someone in the service and send them a THANK YOU or a CHRISTMAS Card. I have several client's families who include me on the "what to mail my son/daughter/brother..." lists.
Ask 5 people you know and you'll find at least one person who knows a serviceman or woman that would appreciate your thanks and your Christmas wishes! If you want to take it a step further, ask that person (the soldier) who he knows that was injured!
So this Christmas, don't be lazy!
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Joshua, thanks for the heads-up. I had gotten one of these emails myself.
What a wonderful surprise to get anything from home when you are so far away.
Joshua, Where did you get the information that they will not accept cards addressed this way? We were planning to send some.
Joshua, thanks for the information. An alternative is also .. the SHUT INs in every community, we have done Christmas Cards to go with the Meals on Wheels.
Thanks for the information - our church bulletin has names of folks who have family in our church - that's who we were going to send to!
Brian - I've gotten several of these. I'm glad I waited to check it out.
Todd - Indeed. I've been told by family members of soldiers that it REALLY does make a difference. Who doesn't like to get mail?
Kay - There is a link in post to the post office, or you can do a "google" on Walter Reed to verify it. Here's the official word: http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/WRResource/SupportRecoveringAmericanSoldier.pdf
Gail - Good suggestion. We all should be doing what the season is really about. Giving.
Josh, thanks for passing along this information. Like Kay said, where did you hear this?
Eleanor - You can also look for ribbons in your neighborhood. In mine we have gold ribbons on Soldier Families's home.
Al - See the link above. We can still do this, but it takes more work.
I sent a card to a soldier this Christmastime....one of our members in the group "Christianity and Real Estate" had a post about how to do it online....
It was really fun!!
=-)
Thanks for the clarification, Joshua. We have taken phone cards down to our local Armory in the past, relying on them to get them to the soldiers. After receiving several e-mails with what appeared to be alternate, time-saving methods of accomplishing the same goal. Guess I won't be lazy!
Thanks for posting this. I know that I know some servicemen personally and it'd be great to send them positive thoughts!
Joshua, I'm so glad you looked that up. The soldiers really like to receive those goody packages; much more than cards anyway.
Alexander - It's always great to actually give back. The hard part is usually getting up off our rear.
Karen - I thought the Christmas card thing was a great idea, but if they won't get the card, then what's the point. I may be going the Red Cross route or visit a neighbor.
Lindsey - All the ones I know like getting mail. Heck! I like getting mail. Either way, something is better than nothing, and it looks like the Christmas Card idea and Walter Reed just aren't going to work.
Marchel - You could easily send a magazine for about the same price of a Christmas card(of course even then you've got to be careful what you send depending on their station) or a book or as you said the goody back with various things in there.
Thank You!! I was one of the people who whole heartedly believed that Christmas Cards to the soldiers WOULD indeed arrive and be distributed to anyone wanting mail from the U.S. I think the idea of "a scam" is terrible injustice to our Men and Women serving.
I love this idea...thanks for the post with accurate information!
Joshua - thank you for the great information. I like the idea of asking friends and neighbors about who they know in the service. This makes it feel more personal too!
Joshua-Thank you for this wonderful information. Anyway possible to help, I want to. You have given us a very good start. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks for the info. I am sure people I let know about this will be grateful. It's gone around our e-mails a few times recently.