Not AT: Stop press- Care packages for the troops (my last message)

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Sorry to keep bothering everyone on all of the

lists, but I have to get the following out. (This

really is my final message after the following was

just sent to me.) :-(

Please still email Rosie about the lip balms,

lotions, soaps, etc. I understand she has every

intention of getting these items out.

Soldiersupport

Email me directly if you've already purchased items

to send since I'll be mailing my own package to the

ship in the first week of April and I'll make sure

every acceptable item is included. (I'll cover all

postage for you to send it to me.)

 

Take care,

Stacey

 

>Hi Stacey,

Well, looks like you will find problems sending

packages to anyone not yours, I just got the following

release from a Dept. of Defense website.

 

No. 139-03

(703)697-5131(media)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2003

(703)428-0711(public/industry)

 

TROOP SUPPORT MAIL POLICY STRESSED

 

To bolster force protection, the general public is

urged not to

send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to

service

members forward deployed unless you are a family

member, loved

one or personal friend.

 

On Oct. 30, 2002, the Department of Defense (DoD)

suspended the

" Operation Dear Abby " and " Any Servicemember " mail

programs due

to force protection concerns. Although these programs

provide

an excellent means of support to friends and loved

ones

stationed overseas, they also provide an avenue to

introduce

hazardous substances or materials into the mail system

from

unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and

donations from

organizations and individuals also compete for limited

airlift

space used to transport supplies, war-fighting

materiel and mail

from family and loved ones.

 

Recently, DoD has become aware of organizations and

individuals

who continue to support some form of the " Any

Servicemember "

program by using the names and addresses of individual

servicemembers and unit addresses. These programs are

usually

supported by well-intentioned, thoughtful and

patriotic groups

who are simply unaware of the new risks facing

deployed military

forces. Some individuals and groups publicize the

names and

addresses of service members, ships or units on Web

sites, with

good intentions. The result, however, is a potential

danger to

the troops they wish to support.

 

DoD cannot support creative and well-intentioned

efforts that

defeat force protection measures, but can instead

recommend

alternatives to mail and donation programs. To show

support to

troops overseas, the following are recommended:

 

* Log on to the following Web sites to show support,

to include

greeting cards, virtual Thank You cards and calling

card

donations to help troops stay in contact with loved

ones:

 

http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html

 

http://www.usocares.org/home.htm

 

http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

 

* Visit Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and

nursing

homes. Volunteer your services to honor veterans who

served in

past conflicts.

 

Mail from family members and loved ones has always

been

encouraged and the military mail system will continue

to work

hard to get that mail to servicemembers overseas.

 

[Web version:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/b03222003_bt139-03.html]

 

-- News Releases:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/releases.html

-- DoD News:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/dodnews.html

-- Subscribe/Un:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/dodnews.html#e-mail

-- Today in DoD: http://www.defenselink.mil/today

 

 

 

 

Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!

http://platinum.