We remember you. Thank you for your Service!

Happy Memorial Weekend:
Memorial Day is about remembering those who have gone before us and especially the courageous men and women who have bravely sacrificed and put their lives on the line to ensure our protection and maintain our freedoms.  Thank you to everyone, past and present, who has served in the armed forces or as a local hero within our police and fire departments.  Today we thank you, pray for you, and applaud your bravery.

If you would like to show a little extra kindness to our soldiers this weekend, here's a couple of easy way to give back.

ADOPT a Soldier:  This kindness mission idea came from randomactsofkindness.org.  Raise a soldier's spirits and make a friend by adopting a soldier as a pen pal. Showing your encouragement and gratitude for the hard work they do will be appreciated.

Often soldiers don't get enough sleep or food and are dealing with difficult weather and high pressure situations in a foreign country. They are far from the comforts of home and working 24 hours a day. Let them know you care about them and are thankful for all that they are doing.

Benefits:

Your encouraging note or package may be the only mail they receive for weeks or months. While some soldiers to have loved ones back home, others may not have any. They may have become a soldier for a fresh start and may not have a support network to help them through the tough times. You can be the person that makes their day!

Or.. Step It Up: 

Don't just send a letter or card, send a care package. Shop for items that would be hard for a soldier to find in a foreign country--favorite foods or snacks, even some hygiene products. Put together a package and send it on it's way to a lucky soldier. Get your friends, family, co-workers or classmates involved. Have everyone in your family write a letter to include in the care package. Or encourage your entire class to adopt a soldier together. Each day have a different student write a letter, ensuring that your soldier will receive a different letter everyday for a month! If you really want to step it up, think about adopting an entire platoon of soldiers.

Email:

You can even use email to express your thanks. Ask your friends and family if they know someone who has served or is serving. Chances are someone will know a soldier. Ask if you can write to them and thank them for their service. If you are not able to consistently write or send care packages you can still help! Make a one-time donation to an organization that adopts soldiers. If that organization is located near you, offer to volunteer to help with filing or making cold calls.

Related Resources:

• If you live in the US, visit Adopt a Soldier to adopt a soldier as your pen pal.
• You can adopt an entire platoon as well! A great option for a classroom, church group or athletic team.
• Maybe you know of a soldier who could use some encouragement. There is a "submit a soldier" feature on the Soldier's Angels website.

A Million Thanks:  A Million Thanks is another great organization working to provide encouragement and support to our troops.  It is a year-round campaign to show our appreciation for our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through our letters, emails, cards, and prayers.  

They ask that individuals, schools, churches, businesses, and other organizations to write cards, letters, emails, and prayer messages of appreciation for our military, past and present. It is our goal to see that our military – active, reserve, and veterans – receive these messages, whether they are serving at home, abroad, or are injured in hospitals. To get started, read the guidelines below then find a location nearest you on our Drop-off Location list so your notes of appreciated can be sent to our troops.

If there are not yet drop-off locations near you, letters can also be sent to:

A Million Thanks
17853 Santiago Blvd. #107-355
Villa Park, CA 92861

1. Do not put letters or cards in individual envelopes or include additional postage. 
2. Send multiple letters together in the same envelope or box, but please bundle the letters in stacks of no more than 50 with rubberbands to keep them together. Bundle the letters or cards in like sizes.
3. Do not send edible items or other care package items.
4. Do not use glitter, confetti, or anything that is not securelyattached to the letter or card.
5. Only include positive messages. Any negative messages will be discarded.
6. Be creative! Draw pictures, talk about you, and let them know their service does not go unnoticed.
7. Include your address or email address if you wish. Most military will write back to you!
8. *Attention parents and/or teachers of young children: We ask that if children are too young to include a message of thanks, please write one on their behalf so our service members get a message along with a drawing.
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If you would like to send themed cards, we ask that you respect the following deadlines:

   1. Thanksgiving cards and letters should be postmarked no later than Nov 1.

   2. Christmas/holiday cards and letters should be postmarked no later than Dec 1.

   3. Valentines cards and letters should be postmarked no later than Jan 15. 

   4. Memorial Day themed cards should be postmarked no later than Apr 15.

   5. Fourth of July themed cards should be postmarked no later than June 1. 

**If any of the above guidelines and deadlines are not followed, please know your letters may not be sent. Thank you!

Visit the website here: www.amillionthanks.org