I am old school – I admit it.
In this age of texts and tweets and whatever other crazy technology they’ve come up with to let us communicate with each other as quickly as possible and with as few words as possible, there is still something special about a pen and paper letter. This is especially true when one is deployed. It didn’t matter how many e-mails or phone calls everyone got, whenever mail call came and there was a package or a letter there, you couldn’t wipe the smile off people’s faces. I still have many of the letters I received when I was deployed – ones from my now husband, from my mother, my friends, and a very special one my baby sister sent to Afghanistan reminding me that I “promised” her I’d make it home and I “always keep [my] promises.”
But love goes both ways and it is important to let not just those who are gone, in the fight, know how much what they are doing matters, but to let their families, the ones who are fighting a different fight, know how much their sacrifice is appreciated too. When I was deployed, I sent my mother flowers and my sister good luck balloons and I always deployed with cards so I could send them to my family and friends for holidays and main events. My best friend, who I’ll introduce you to tomorrow, made sure I had a birthday cake on my birthday, even if she had to have it delivered to my vacation hotel from her tent in Qatar. These things matter and my family and friends aren’t the only ones that need that kind of reinforcement – all current and former military families do.
So, this Valentine’s Day, why not take a minute to send servicemembers, their families, and veterans a pen and paper “love” letter. Operation Appreciation is run by Blue Star Families, an organization – “created by military families for military families” – which endeavors to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by military families. Operation Appreciation encourages individuals to write a letter of thanks to current military members, their spouses, children, and parents or to veterans to let them know how much their sacrifices are, well, appreciated. Don’t want to write just one letter? Take it to your church, classroom, Boys Scouts, or other organization and get them to pitch in. The more, the merrier. Blue Star Families has put together a nine-page PDF with clear and simple directions, mailing address, tips (no glitter!), and examples to help make the process even easier.
So, what do you say? How about you join the old school crowd this Valentine’s Day and send a love letter to servicemembers, their families, and veterans and tell them how glad you are for all they do. You can find more at Operation Appreciation at: http://bluestarfam.org/Programs/Operation_Appreciation
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
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