click for
LETTERS
TO the
FRONT
letter writing campaign

Active Duty

(Note: Stuffed inside the playbill handed out at each performance is a 3x5 Comment Card that asks for basic demographic info, along with a request to flip the card over and jot down any comments that one might have about the play. The following are samplings from those cards.)

"Great production and actors! Very moving and patriotic. Best -- highest quality production I have seen at an AFB in 27 years." -- Col. Robert E. Sherman, 53, officer, Malmstrom AFB, MT

"The feelings were powerful and made me feel pride and honor for joining the U.S. Military. The play was very inspirational and extremely real with all the actions and the little things the actors did." -- 19, male enlisted, Ft. Sill, OK

"I thought the writing was very powerful, the letters well interspersed, and the acting very convincing." -- 40, male officer, Bolling AFB, DC

"It touches the soul!" -- 46, male officer, Bolling AFB, DC

"Fantastic! Wouldn't have missed it for anything. Meant so much as I have a son MIA from Vietnam. Thanks for a wonderful evening. (Loved hearing the coffee brewing)." -- 70, female DEC, Eglin AFB, FL

"Great acting! Nice set. Having written/received similar letters, it brought back many memories. Broad spectrum of emotions so well depicted. Thanks for your support of the military, especially now when it's so easy to take us for granted." -- 47, male officer, Dover AFB, DE

"The organization was splendid as was the theme of the play. Overall I give the play two thumbs up. I will mark this day on my calendar as one of the most perfect days I have ever had. I will remember this till the day I die." -- 21, male enlisted, Ft. Lee, VA

"Some of the best theatre I have seen. Better than most I have seen from Boston and New York. Impressed! Eloquent!" -- 27, male enlisted, Ft. Stewart, GA

"You broke my heart and brightened my day. Fantastic!" -- 38, male enlisted, Charleston AFB, SC

"The show was very real and it was honest in its roles. I highly recommend its showing to all ranks!! I give it five stars!!" -- 19, female enlisted, Ft. Hood, TX

"Should be on Broadway." -- 33, male enlisted, Ft. Bliss, TX

"Very well done. A great way to say what we feel! Thank you all for your gift of this play. I hope this will be very successful for you because it touched my heart." -- 32, male enlisted, New London Submarine Base, CT

"It hit me hard.   It was so real.  Made me realize things I'd never thought of.  I loved it.  (I cried). -- 19, female enlisted, Ft. Eustis, VA

"I enjoyed the honesty and the passion with which the play was presented.  I also enjoyed the presentation of the theme that no matter what war, we are always reminded of the things that truly matter in life and what is worth fighting for." -- 22, male enlisted, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

"Superior show.   Very well cast.  Truly much better than many Broadway plays I have seen.   The actors, Dannette Bock and Neal Matthews did a superior performance to a highly superior written and directed play.    I and my wife wish you all the success in the future." -- 53, male officer, Ft. Riley, KS

"The show reminded me of whom and what I joined the Air Force for -- my fiance, my country, and my God." -- 24, male enlisted, Lackland AFB, TX

"It was real and can easily be related to.  Great actors and visuals or photos of people and war scenery.  As a retired captain who served overseas, I know the importance of receiving and writing letters with loved ones." -- 49, male officer, Ft. Belvoir, VA

"You have put together a truly emotionally intense production.  The letters, as I'm sure you are aware, are honest and beautiful.  More than once during the performance a tear came to my eye.  Only those sending or receiving these letters can fully appreciate them.   However, your play brings them to those who may not otherwise ever have a chance to understand.  Thank you, and thank you in advance for all those you will touch in the future." -- 25, male enlisted, Vandenberg AFB, CA

"Being in the last third of basic, going to a play in a culturally barren environment was like pouring holy water into an empty cup.  Such small treasures often are enough to trick even the most stubborn minds into the next day and beyond.  Thank you!" -- 33, male enlisted, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

"It made my heart heart ache and eyes well up with emotions.  The photo essay of Katharine's child caused something to ooze in my heart, like a half-scabbed over knee.  Excellent production!" -- 30, male officer, NAS Whidbey Island, WA

"It was outstanding.  Liked both main plot and sub-plots.  Well staged, directed and excellently acted!!  You did great!  My letters were published in US Post Office's Letters From the Sand! -- 36, female officer (Desert Shield/Storm vet ANC), Scott AFB, IL

"What I liked the most was the bond I feel with all the service men befor me.  We all shared the same feelings, hopes and dreams.  It also brough back a lot of memories of my time spent in Saudi.  Thanks." -- 30, male enlisted, Ft. Bragg, NC

"The elegant way in which the fictional drama and comedy of the play rose and fell girded by the very real drama and comedy in the many letters home from the front." -- 35, male officer, Vicenza, Italy

"Well done.   A real 'Chicken Soup' for the soldier." -- 38, male officer, NS Naples, Italy

"Happy, sad, exhilarated, upset, very, very moved.  It was great and very informative." -- 33, male submariner, NSA LaMaddalena, Italy

"I lived it!" -- 47, male reserve, Moron AB, Spain

"Beyond belief . . . I've had a relative in every war since and including World War I. This production continued to bring tears to my eyes throughout. I can only hope this work of art will instill the deep pride I have within myself into the rest of these men. Bravo, bravo!" -- 18, male enlisted, Lackland AFB, TX

"The whole show was an absolute work of art. Powerful, moving, and thought provoking. Please come back and next time stay longer. Well done!" -- 45, male, officer, Scott AFB, IL

"I particularly enjoyed the way the show intertwined the past with the present with the seamless combination of history and truth. Best of luck." -- 34, male, enlisted, Ft. Knox, KY

"I took 150 of my soldiers from my company and all of them enjoyed the play. It's an excellent experience for AIT soldiers to be a part of. We will attend "in force" again if given the chance. The message of the play touched every one of us. Thanks!" -- 34, female officer, Ft. Jackson, SC

"Each act was better than the one before. The last letter of Act II was exceptional. The emotion of [Katharine's] letter brought the whole heart of the play to me. How many mothers, wives, and others have offered that same prayer? The simple "thank you" after [her son's] call still brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for a great evening. Della Cole and Neal Matthews are absolutely exceptional." -- 41, male officer, McClellan AFB, CA.

"Wonderful! The letters were the best part, being a member of the service and having had friends and family in conflicts since WWII. It struck home a lot. Thank you for coming to the desert." -- 25, female enlisted, Ft. Irwn, CA

"Gosh, it was breathtaking. The actors did not seem to play, they seemed to just be themselves. The amount of attention to details with which the stage was set up was just amazing. Raised to be a man and behave manly, I had to force myself not to let out tears. I am deeply moved. During the entire show all I could think about was my mom and the fact that I haven't written her lately. It was the best show I've seen and I would like to thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. Keep up the great job!!!" -- 22, male enlisted, Ft. Campbell, KY

"You understand." -- 23, male enlisted, Bamberg, Germany

"I really enjoyed the humerous side.  My father served in Vietnam and myself in Bosnia.  Not getting letters from home is like not knowing how you did on a test.  My sister recently joined the Marines.  Now we are an Uncle Sam family and so far from each other that letters are the only thing that gets you through most days.  Thanks for a job well done!!   PFC with pride." -- 21, female enlisted, Darmstadt, Germany

"The whole show was emotional.   The acting touched my soul as no other.  God bless the work you do!" -- 35, male enlisted, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium

"As a widow of an Army Officer you touched my heart over and over again.  Thank you so very much!" -- 50, female officer, Vicenza, Italy

"Total quality beyond all my expectations.  True emotions and great entertainment!" -- 34, male officer, Ansbach, Germany

"As a veteran of Desert Storm and Just Cause, I have often felt that the technical side of modern war has been so over emphasized that all too often people lose sight of the fact that someone has to face the reality of what war is.  Thanks so much for bringing the focus back to where it should be!" -- 33, male enlisted, Kitzingen, Germany

"The feelings and emotion were incredible.  I hope that many others are able to see this and remember.  Since the Gulf War is so recent to many of us, this play really hit home.  Thank you so much for caring." -- 27, female enlisted, Stuttgart, Germany

"Good selection of letters.   Really touched the heart strings -- not to mention a few patriotic chords!  Congrats on a superb production.  Continue to take the "message" throughout the military!" -- 45, male officer, Aviano AB, Italy

"There were such personal views.  The stories and letters were so intimate -- almost too intimate.  Della Cole was fabulous." -- 25, female officer, Ramstein AB, Germany

"Great show!  It made me laugh and cry.  I just went through all the emotions in two hours.  Wow!!   I would come and see it again. -- 31, male enlisted, Hohenfels, Germany

"I have had to present the '. . . on behalf of a grateful nation . . .' speech to the wife and parents of one of my soldiers.  Unfortunately the hurt is still too close.  Your play is damn good.   Keep up the good work and may God bless." -- 45, male officer, Vilseck, Germany

"The actor and actress were very energetic and professional.  Every single section of the drama was outstanding, smartly played.  It had a little of everything: happiness, sadness and comedy.   Very professionally done." -- 43, male officer, Hanau, Germany

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