The Responsbility of A Great Power

I got a forward from my politically conservative cousin about the military with which I agree.

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address.

If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get!

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

And please, don't forget to pass it on.

I do need to edit. He always chides me because I go to snopes.com to look up the quotes he forwards that are very conservative politically, but ostensibly from David Letterman, or George Carlin, or Lee Iacocca. I just like to know with whom I'm agreeing (or disagreeing). Otherwise we might as well start sending those forwards as coming from "George W. Bush" in support of opening the border with Mexico or "Rush Limbaugh" favoring the legalization of narcotics.

But, to be serious, just because you think our Commander in Chief made a tactical mistake by invading Iraq doesn't mean that the soldiers and sailors that had to do it should suffer. Yes, they volunteered to join the service, but they had to expect that they'd be fighting in defense of this nation (as they have in Afghanistan), or at least in defense of freedom and human dignity (as they did in the Balkans).

So I did go to snopes.com, and discovered that Walter Reed does not accept these sorts of messages. However, a Red Cross program called "Holiday Mail for Heroes" will.

The rules:

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.

Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.

Please ensure that all cards are signed.

Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.

Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.

Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

Just send your greetings to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456