Mail for mending G.I.s swamps Walter Reed

By STEPHANIE GASKELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, November 23rd 2008, 8:10 PM

Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., gets so many holiday cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" each year, they've enlisted the help of the Red Cross to handle them.

Hospital officials can no longer accept cards addressed to the hospital.

Instead, they're encouraging messages of support to be sent to the Red Cross "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program, which will help distribute cards to servicemen and women, including wounded soldiers recovering at military hospitals across the country.

Last year, Walter Reed teamed up with the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, which will screen, sort and distribute the cards to soldiers for free.

"This opportunity is such a great way for the public to personally support the military and say a special thank you for their service this holiday season," said Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern.

"I hope everyone will take the time to join us and send an extra card for the military," she said.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10.

Only cards - which can be downloaded for free at www.redcross.org - will be accepted. No packages, long letters, photos or any other inserts will be accepted.

Last year, more than 600,000 cards were mailed to the troops. Red Cross officials said they expect more than 1 million to be sent this year - and many of them will end up at Walter Reed, the nation's largest military hospital.

"As we enter this holiday season - a time to celebrate with family and friends - it's important to remember the thousands of men and women who serve our nation in harm's way and those who are recovering in military and veterans hospitals," said Army Col. Norvell Coots, commander of the Walter Reed Health Care System.

"The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a wonderful outreach effort and a great way to acknowledge the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform."

To send a card to the troops, address it to "A Service Member" and mail it to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Pox 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5464
Or log on to www.redcross.org for more info

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead