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Support Our Troops

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A Message from Pete and Pam Wright

In September, 2007, our son Jason was deployed to Iraq. Jason worked as a JAG officer with the First Armored Division in Northern Iraq. Later, he was assigned to a role that took him "outside the wire" every day. After a 15 month tour, Jason returned before Christmas.

Like many of you, we are frustrated by the wars. Like many of you, we said "We support the troops."

After Jason was deployed, we asked ourselves, "What have we done to support the troops? What actions have we taken?'"

The painful answer: "Not much."

As a result, we spent a great deal of time on the Internet. We wanted to learn all we could about how ordinary people - like us and you - can support the servicemen and women who are serving in these countries far from home. Continue to read this message from Pete and Pam Wright.

Why Should We Help?

"It means the world to us knowing that while we are on the front, America has our back. Thank you for all the support you have given. Your letters mean the world to us."

Thousands of US soldiers say they are grateful for letters and packages they receive from family and friends. But it is the support from strangers that they find astounding.

We hope you will take a few minutes to support these men and women who are serving in dangerous lands, far from home.

As Pete and Pam Wright pack orders for Wrightslaw products, they include Cell Phones for Soldiers recycling envelopes in every package.

When you order from Wrightslaw, you will receive a small plastic envelope. Just slide in your unused cell phones into the envelope, seal, and drop it in the mail.

It's easy. It's free - no postage required. Program flyer

How We Can Help*

Check these websites to learn how you can help.

2009 Holiday Drive, mail your cards now!Holiday Mail for Heroes sponsored by the American Red Cross with help from Pitney Bowes. November 2 - December 7, 2009.

Tell Them Thanks - Service members sign up for support and one of  our members "adopts" them throughout their deployment. Click the link to adopt a service member or be adopted. You will also be able to "Thank the Families" of service members.

Operation Gratitude - This all-volunteer organization sends care packages to individual service members deployed overseas, they want to lift troops' morale and put smiles on their faces - a great way to say "thank you."

Watch "The Definition of Gratitude" l 2009 Patriotic Drive l Request a package

Guard Family - Click your state. You will find a contact name and number for the Family Assistance Center or Family Readiness Group in your area.  Staff at these centers love to have offers of assistance for deployed soldiers and their families.

Adopt A Platoon - Jason tell us about troops in the field "who have nothing." You won't find a better way to support a small group than by Adopting a platoon.

Any Soldier - Want to support a soldier who is in harm's way, but have no idea about what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it? Here's how.

Boatsie's Boxes - A wonderful family operation that sends boxes tohospitals, groups of young troops who are deployed for the first time, and reaching the Forward Lines of operation all over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Give2TheTroops® - a group that includes military troops, family members, companies, organizations, schools, volunteers and donors who want to support our troops.

Cell Phones For Soldiers -The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was launched in April 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, MA. Re-cycled cell phones provide millions of minutes on prepaid calling cards for our troops serving overseas. Brittany and Robbie plan to raise more than $9 million in 2008.

Soldiers' Angels - Soldiers' Angels supports tens of thousands of American Service Members stationed around the world. The numbers grow daily. Soldiers' Angels are dedicated to supporting service members during and after their deployments.

The Hugs Project -The Hugs Project, started June, 2004 in Oklahoma by Ray and Karen Stark, is a non profit 501 C 3 organization that makes cool ties (affectionately nicknamed "hugs" since they go around the neck) to help keep our troops and allies cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

Operation Mail From Home - Everyone Needs Mail from Home!

Operation Uplink - Donate a calling card to help servicemembers stay in touch with their families.

Military and Government Support - A few of the military and government support programs focused on helping our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Marines and National Guardsmen. America Reaches Out: Citizen Support Groups by state.

Free kit for mailing

How Teachers Can Help

Have your class adopt a servicemember or a unit as pen pals. Use this project as an English lesson, letter writing skills practice, geography facts, art project, etc.

Jason wrote, "I have a pen pal. She's in 2nd grade. In fact, her entire 2nd grade class is writing our legal team here. Their teacher is the sister-in-law of one of my colleagues. When we all received our first letters 2 weeks ago, just before Halloween, there was so much excitement. It's amazing how one letter from a child in Arizona can have such a positive effect." - Captain Jason Wright, Judge Advocate

Operation Kids 4 Troops started in the classroom of TSGT Spencer C. Cluff, a high school teacher (Human Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology) in Oklahoma City and an Air Force Reservist with the 507th Medical Squadron at Tinker AFB.

Many schoolchildren have had their lives deeply touched during this time of war. For DOD Support to Civilian Schools Educating Military Children and Resources, please go to the Military and DoD Special Education page.

Teachers Learn How Kids Can Support the Troops.

Kids Can Take Action Too!

You receive help from many people every day — bus drivers, teachers, cafeteria workers — and they appreciate it when you say "thank you" for their help.

But there is one group of people you may not even think about thanking — the men and women in the military who serve all over the world.

Messages from the Kids - As our troops help children in Iraq and Afghanistan, find out what kids can do to support these troops.

Tips for Writing a "Thank You" Letter to a Soldier. You'll find a sample of a thank you letter you can write to a soldier.

"Thank You to our Troops"
Mammoth Elementary School
Mammoth Lakes, CA

The Wrightslaw Team says a special "thank you" to Ms. Mayfield's fourth grade class for their wonderful letters.

A big Wrightslaw Team thanks to:

Girl Scout Troop 51181
Deerwood Elementary School
Eagan, MN

"Thank you for doing the job of an American Soldier..."

The Perry Family, Ladera Ranch, CA

Your great letters were sent to soldiers in the 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1-17th IN BN in Afghanistan.

Hero Hugs - Scrapbookers help 10-year-old Bailey Reese, founder and president of Hero Hugs.

Click here to help send A Million Thanks to our troops.

What Troops Miss Most

"I miss...

... the freedom to go somewhere and feel safe

... wearing something pink

... fresh butter and milk..."

 

Troops say they miss their families most.

USPS Military Care Packages: This free kit may be ordered by calling 1-800-610-8734 For military families, associations and groups preparing to send care packages to service members overseas, Priority Mail is the packaging of choice. To address the current demand, the Postal Service has created a special "kit" that contains the necessary mailing materials based on the most popular items ordered to send care packages to the troops. The kit contains five each of Priority Mail Box-4, Priority Mail Box-7 and Mili-Pac Tyvek envelopes / one roll of Priority Mail tape / and ten customs forms with envelopes. Dimensions for Priority Mail Box-4: 7 x 7 x 6 (in inches) Dimensions for Priority Mail Box-7: 12 x 12 x 8 (in inches) Dimensions for the Mili-Pac: 12 x 15 (in inches) (Tyvek envelope) All care packages must be addressed to INDIVIDUAL SERVICE MEMBERS as per the Department of Defense. The Mili-Pac features detailed addressing information and it is encouraged that that process is followed for all mail destined for military units overseas. The address block on the Mili-Pac includes Service member full name; Rank or rating; Military organization or unit; APO/FPO (Air/Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office) with 9-digit ZIP Code. *Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the DoD cannot accept items to be mailed to " Any Servicemember ." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual servicemember's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unneccessary delays. Please use websites like those listed above to help support the troops.

Last Revised: 11/16/09
Created: 11/11/07

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