4/25/02
Now is a good time to send letters to troops
AMARILLO, TX — The Amarillo post office and the Veterans of Foreign War have joined forces to celebrate letter-writing month by encouraging children to send letters to American troops overseas.
Representatives of each organization are visiting Amarillo elementary schools this week and next, according to information from the post office.
Veterans will share their past war experiences with the children and describe what current overseas troops are probably feeling being away from family and friends for months at a time.
Representatives from the Amarillo Post Office will encourage the students to write letters to the troops. The students can attach a pre-addressed card with the new "Greetings From America" stamp affixed, in hopes of receiving a reply from the soldier that ends up with their letter.
The letters will be mailed to the 31st Marine Expedition Unit on the USS Essex, the information stated.
Because letters are no longer accepted at military bases overseas to "any soldier" due to security risks, the post office has enlisted the help of Operation Interdependence™, a new program implemented by the Navy League of the United States, Tri-City Council.
The program, which began in December, uses volunteers to review, package and weigh letters and donated materials.
Items are then sent to inspectors who screen all materials before they are shipped overseas.
Operation Interdependence™ will not accept any envelopes but will accept boxes with letters, the news release stated.
The Greetings from America Promotion agenda for the remainder of the week is as follows:
Oak Dale Elementary School, Friday; Emerson Elementary School, Monday; South Georgia Elementary School and Avondale Elementary School, Tuesday.
Also participating were Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, Margaret Wills Elementary School and Oak Dale Elementary School.
For more information about the program, contact Navy League of the United States, Tri-City Council, Attn: Albert R. Renteria, P.O. Box 339, Fallbrook, CA 92088-0339 or visit the web site at www.oidelivers.org.