Let's Say Thanks to Our Troops for the Holidays

In the sixties a noon television program here in Fort Wayne, Indiana broadcasted the address of a young man who was stationed in Korea. His mother was blind and could not correspond with him, so they were asking viewers to write letters to him.

Thus began a two year correspondence that has always been one of the highlights of my life.

At this time of year it is always a need for people to want to reach out to our troops, and I was fortunate enough to receive two very timely messages from my friend, Denise Harmeyer. Denise is the mother of two sons who are deployed. One of the messages asked her friends to send holiday greetings to her son, Matthew and all the troops in his unit. She supplied his address, she couldn't supply the other because he is in an undisclosed area. She also sent a separate message letting me know of a site where I could go to send off my thanks to other young men and women overseas.

This year, Xerox, through the program 'Let's Give Thanks' is providing a platform online for all Americans to say Happy Holidays to our deployed men and women who are in harm's way.

All that is necessary is a visit to http:www.letssaythanks.com. You then follow the steps to design your own holiday greeting. You can also personalize it by writing your own message.

Then, Xerox, along with the help of the military support organization Give2TheTroops, will make a copy of your message and send it off to our men and women in uniform.

Celebrities such as, George Lopez, Henry Simmons, Phyllis Diller, Wayne Newton, and Whoopi Goldberg have all sent out their thanks via the Let's Say Thanks website and now we all have the same opportunity.

Things have changed a lot since the sixties, when computers were as big as a small bus, and the Internet was a slim gleam in someone's eye. But, I believe we all still have the same need to want to reach out to these young people halfway across the globe who are supporting our freedoms with their very lives.

So, take the some time today to go to the Let's Say Thanks website. Follow all the necessary steps and in less than 10 minutes you can show your support and caring. Let them know you care as much about them as they do about this great country.

Happy Holidays!