DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Troop Support Options:

DoD officials ask citizens not to flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Defense Department cannot accept items mailed to "Any Servicemember". While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, donor programs that collect and pass out Servicemembers names and addresses are discouraged. There are numerous other ways in which you can show your support for our troops. The following are methods and web sites for several organizations sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas through which you can send messages or make donations of time or money. It would be inappropriate for DoD to endorse any specifically. Servicemembers do value and appreciate such expressions of support:

· Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at www.operationuplink.org

· Send a greeting via email through http://anyservicemember.org/ or www.OperationDearAbby.net

· Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defense America web site at www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html or www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

· Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:
Army Emergency Relief at www.aerhq.org
Navy/Marine Relief Society at www.nmcrs.org
Air Force Aid Society at www.afas.org
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at www.cgmahq.org

· Donate to "Operation USO Care Package" at www.usometrodc.org/care.html

· Volunteer at a VA Hospital www.va.gov/vetsday to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

· Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through a donation to the
Fisher House at www.fisherhouse.org.

· U.S. troops deployed to the Persian Gulf region and other overseas locations can now receive personal messages from family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues and supporters via the pages of "Stars and Stripes" as well. "Messages of Support," a daily section that debuted March 17, gives family and friends of deployed service members a chance to pass their greetings, words of encouragement and announcements free of charge. "Messages of Support" can be e-mailed to "Stars and Stripes" 24 hours a day at messages@estripes.com, are limited to 50 words or less and will be printed on a first-come, first-run basis. "Stars and Stripes" reserves the right to screen and edit all messages and to omit any determined inappropriate.

· Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one deployed.