PROJECT APPRECIATION

This project is for all members, both senior and juniors. Those who like to draw or younger juniors who like to color can send their own original artwork. Prayers, poems, newspaper comics and high school or college sports news from a local newspaper can be included. It is easy to do and our heroes will be so grateful for a letter.

WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT:

• Address your message to "Dear Hero" or "Dear Brave One"
• Keep messages positive
• Be creative, draw pictures, tell a little about yourself, like what you do everyday, about your hobbies, etc.
• Children might tell their age, their grade in school, what games they like to play
• Avoid politics completely and avoid religion in excess. Saying you are praying for them is absolutely fine.

SUGGESTIONS:

• Use standard size envelopes
• Do not seal envelopes; for security reasons all mail will be screened
• Address messages with one of the addresses listed on the continued page
• Postage and return addresses are not required on individual items
• Collect a number of messages and put them all in a larger envelope and mail

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEND MESSAGES?

Any day is good. Start right away. The idea is write more than once. Think of the sacrifices the military have made and continue to make for our freedom. It is our duty to let them know we are grateful and we care about them.

Remember special days too:

• Valentines Day
• Thanksgiving in Canada, October 10
• Veterans Day, November 11
• Remembrance Day, Canada November 11
• Thanksgiving in US, November 28
• Christmas

IN USA:

LETTERS TO HEROES sends letters to currently deployed service members at:

OPERATION GRATITUDE
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
www.operationgratitude.com

If you want to send a message to a wounded service member, use the above address, but mark the outside envelope "WOUNDED WARRIOR."

For VETERANS OF PREVIOUS CONFLICTS, send to:

THANK A VETERAN
c/o Penny Alfonso
1970 Rangeview Drive
Glendale, CA 91201
www.operationgratitude.com

To send letters to both PRESENT AND PAST MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, address packets to:

A MILLION THANKS
P. O. Box 17853
Santiago Blvd. #107-355
Villa Park, CA 02861
www.amillionthanks.org

Another way of sending messages to VETERANS, is to mail (or e-mail) to:

HONOR FLIGHT COLUMBUS
2185 Ridgecliff Road
Columbus Ohio 43221
www.honorflight.org

IN CANADA:

Send thanks to the TROOPS through the Royal Canadian Legion at:

www.legion.ca

Write to the Troops Message Board at:

www.forces.gc.ca

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PRAY FOR THE HEROES

Remember them everyday. This sample prayer might be used:

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.
In His Name, Amen

JUST A THOUGHT: It would be nice for branch presidents to include the number of appreciation messages sent by their members in their convention reports in Bethlehem, PA.