[MilCom] Thanksgiving

[Steven Carver]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Duane Mantick" <wb9omc at nlci.com>
To: "'pmunsel'" <pmunsel at txcyber.com>; "'Ken'" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>; "'MilCom'" 
<milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:41 PM
Subject: RE: [MilCom] Thanksgiving


Thinking a bit more about Ken's original post, I was recalling that
at one time you could send a letter or card through the postal
service to "any soldier".  It was very popular around holidays.
Does anyone know if there is currently an email equivalent?  Perhaps
if so, we could all drop off a note....

Duane


Here is the latest info from DoD....

Steve Carver N7VVW

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2004 - One often-repeated question from forward-deployed
troops today is some form of: "Does America support what we're doing over
here?"

Judging by the number of Web sites devoted to that support, the answer is a
resounding, "Yes!"

But as times have changed, so have the ways to support the troops. Just because
the old way - no more "Any Servicemember" mail - doesn't work anymore, that
doesn't mean that troops can't receive mail and care packages from patriotic
souls. It simply means finding an organization to help you get that morale-
boosting mail to the troops.

Dozens of independent organizations are ready and willing to help those who
want to support the troops. They generally fall into two basic categories. The
first is the organizations that collect cash or goods to create care packages
to be sent to troops who wish to receive them.

One such organization is Freedom Calls Foundation, which uses state-of-the-art
communications technology to keep servicemembers connected with their families.
Because of Freedom Calls' efforts, servicemembers have "been there" for
milestone events such as weddings (sometimes their own), births and
graduations.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars offers a program called "Operation Uplink" that
connects servicemembers with family and friends. The program, begun in 1996,
provides pre-paid phone cards to active-duty servicemembers and hospitalized
veterans.

Again, Operation Uplink accepts cash donations that are used to purchase the
pre-paid phone cards. Donations can be made online, via phone or through the
mail.

Another supporter of deployed U.S. troops, the United Service Organizations,
has a program called "Operation USO Care Package." The program lets well-
wishers sponsor a care package for a monetary donation. USO makes the donation
part easy too. All it takes is a mouse click, a phone call or a stamp to mail a
check.

The second-type organization pairs supporters with servicemembers who have
given permission to release their contact information to an individual. Most of
the sites offering servicemember "adoptions" require a minimum commitment of
one piece of mail a month.

AdoptaPlatoon, not only provides the means to "adopt" an individual
servicemember, but an entire platoon. The requirements for each adoption are a
little different. Supporters can also ask to be matched with a servicemember as
a pen pal.

Operation Military Pride is another group that focuses on care packages.
However, to obtain mailing information for a servicemember, supporters are
required to sign up through the site. Like many organizations, Operation
Military Pride has several different campaigns in the works to support deployed
troops.

There also are a smaller number of Web sites dedicated to allowing a supporter
to send an electronic greeting to servicemembers and some that have compiled a
list of links to various support Websites.

Care packages are always nice, but letters are just as good. And sites like
Operation Dear Abby and Letters From Home make that very easy to do. Operation
Dear Abby provides the means to send an electronic greeting to a servicemember
and Letters From Home works with the old-fashioned variety.

If the legitimacy of a site is a concern, check out the list on the Defend
America Web site. While the Department of Defense does not endorse
organizations, a DoD official said that the groups listed on Defend America are
checked routinely to make sure they are doing what they say they are.

It's also important to remember that some Web sites are easier to use than
others. So don't get discouraged, the links are there. It may just take a
little looking to find them.

These are just a small sampling of organizations that offer Americans the means
to remember and appreciate our troops. There are many, many groups offering
many, many ways to show deployed troops that yes, America Supports You!

Related Sites:
Defend America [http://www.defendamerica.mil]
Defend America:
Support Our Troops [http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html]
Freedom Call Foundation [http://www.freedomcalls.org/]
United Service Organizations [http://www.usocares.org/]
Veterans of Foreign Wars [http://www.operationuplink.org/]
 AdoptaPlatoon  [http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/]
Operation Military
Pride [http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/]
Operation Dear Abby [http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/]
Letters From Home [http://www.lettersfromhomeprogram.org/]
<spacer type= vertical size=5>

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2004/n11192004_2004111914.html.



====================================================

Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, 
that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home 
and abroad.

====================================================
Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news
and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at 
http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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-----Original Message-----
From: milcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of pmunsel
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 10:13 PM
To: Ken; MilCom
Subject: Re: [MilCom] Thanksgiving


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>
To: "MilCom" <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:45 PM
Subject: [MilCom] Thanksgiving


>
> Well on my way home this evening I went through Westover JARB gate &
> talked a bit
> with the entry security controller, as the cold rain pounded down...
> Apparently he's going to be on the gate tomorrow again...
>
> I hope that as each of you sits down tomorrow with your families at
> Thanksgiving, you think a bit about the men & women of our armed forces
> who
> are away from their families this Thanksgiving, performing their duties.
>
> Ken
>
>
Many reminders of this today, and tonight. I enjoy the time with friends and

family, but always feel sad for those who are not as fortunate. Over the
years, I have spent many of these times away from loved ones. Either in the
military, or in Public Safety. I now am in a position to look forward to
being with them. For that I am thankful, and hope others will have this as
well. To those who are working to watch over us, Thank You.
73,
Paul N5XMV

>