Americans Find Ways to Support
Military Troops at War

By Rustie Dimitriadis

See the list of links from this article, with additional resources.

With hundreds of thousands of our nation's bravest currently deployed overseas, Americans are eager to do all they can to show their support. However, there seems to be some confusion regarding how best to help. Niagara Frontier Publications encourages support of our troops both abroad and here at home and so we have done a little research to help our readers learn exactly how to show their support.

One common misconception is that the military is soliciting letters and packages addressed to "Any Service Member." This is untrue; according to the United States Postal Service, programs that allowed the general public to send mail addressed to "Any Service Member" were cancelled in October of 2001 due to transportation constraints and heightened security.

The Department of Defense states that the "Any Service Member" program and the traditional "Operation Dear Abby" were suspended because they provided, "an avenue to introduce hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and donations from organizations and individuals also compete for limited airlift space used to transport supplies, war-fighting material and mail from family and loved ones."

The DoD says that some people have tried to circumvent the prohibitions on mailing unsolicited items by sending large numbers of packages to an individual service member's address to be distributed. Though these efforts are undoubtedly well intentioned, they clog the mail system and create unnecessary delays.

Despite necessary postal regulations and security concerns, there are still many ways for concerned Americans to show their support. The United Service Organizations have implemented "Operation USO Care Package," to replace the "Any Service Member" program. The USO allows corporations to make financial contributions, donate items in bulk, or implement an employee participation program. In addition, individuals may donate $25 to pay for a care package, which can include a personal greeting. To eliminate security problems, these greetings will be transcribed onto an official postcard by the USO staff. For information on how to support this operation, call 1-866-USO-GIVE or visit www.usocares.org.

In addition, the traditional "Operation Dear Abby" has been replaced by "OperationDearAbby.net," which allows Americans to email their greetings to the troops. Service members with Internet access are able read the messages online. Company commanders with Internet access may download bulk messages to be printed and distributed so that even those without Internet access can still benefit from the messages. To send an email greeting, visit anyservicemember.navy.mil.

Personal mail from family members and loved ones continues to be encouraged, despite postal restrictions. "Operation Iraqi Freedom Mailing Tips" from the United States Post Office offers addressing and packaging tips and mailing prohibitions. The military mail system works hard to deliver mail from family and loved ones in a timely manner. Packages can take two to four weeks or more due to the current high volume of mail. Please note that it is unnecessary to send stamps to service members, as they may send mail without postage from the war zone.

Recently, we gave our readers a list of items being solicited by our troops. "Operation Shoe Box" encourages people to send individual letters and packages to specific service members that they know personally who are serving overseas. While "Operation Shoe Box" is currently slowing down their shipments to Iraq due to a mail backlog, they are still able to package items and mail them to service members deployed in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other areas. For more information, including how to help defray postage costs, visit www.operationshoebox.com.

The American Legion is another great resource for those seeking to do their part in the war effort. According to National Commander Ronald F. Conley, tangible demonstrations of support are invaluable to our troops overseas. Says Conley, "America's service personnel do not find their strength in fighting. They find their strength in the unfailing support of family, friends and the nation they serve."

The American Legion encourages contributions to their Sept. 11 Scholarship Fund for children of service personnel killed in action. They also suggest purchasing a flag, yard sign, or yellow ribbon to display in front of your home or organizing a prayer vigil for our president and military. For details, visit www.legion.org.

The USPS recommends visiting www.defendamerica.mil and clicking on "Support our Troops." Here you will find many links to websites that provide information on giving blood, donating calling cards via the Internet, sending virtual thank-you cards online, and making donations to the American Red Cross and various military relief organizations. In addition, the DoD recommends that Americans reach out to military families in their communities or volunteer at VA hospitals or nursing homes to honor veterans from past conflicts. The website also lists other creative ways to support our troops, including sending gift certificates for military PX and base exchanges, as well as supporting Fisher House, a nonprofit provider of "comfort homes" for family members to stay in while visiting service members injured in combat.

Families Attached to Military is a nonprofit organization that NFP has encouraged our readers to support. FAM State Representatives collect cards, letters, and requested items and compile them into individual care packages in accordance with military guidelines. These care packages are sent overseas to all branches of the Armed Forces to be distributed by senior military personnel. To learn more, visit www.famglobal.org.

In addition to supporting our American troops, many have expressed an interest in assisting the children of Iraq. The United Nations Children's Fund is leading the UN's emergency efforts in providing basic medicines and equipment, therapeutic and supplementary feeding for malnourished children, and emergency repairs to the water and sanitation infrastructure, along with the provision of basic education materials. To find out how you can help, visit www.supportunicef.org.

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