"LETTERS TO THE FRONT" STILL DELIVERS TO AMERICAN TROOPS FOR THE 7th YEAR IN A ROW

(approx. 650 words)

"All the prayers and positive energy we receive - we do our best to return, as feeding off your good will is all that keeps us going," writes an Artilleryman on behalf of the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment stationed in Kirkuk. "What organizations like yours do for us over here gives us the boost we need to carry on with our work.  We all love and thank you for it."

Marsha Roberts, coordinator for the yearly "Letters TO the Front" Letter Writing Campaign this soldier is referring to says, "I can't describe how it makes us feel to get letters like this from soldiers stationed in harm's way.  It makes all our efforts worthwhile."

Since 1999, "Letters TO the Front" has safely sent hundreds of thousands of letters of support to American troops stationed in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, South Korea and Guantanimo Bay.  With so many U.S. troops dealing with long deployments, campaign coordinators are hoping for a record number of letters in 2005.

"This is a great program you have here," writes a soldier from "a remote location" in Northern Iraq.  "Not only does it provide something for the soldiers, but it also involves our youth in what is going on abroad." 

"We receive letters from children and adults from all walks of life, but the most consistent support  has come from veterans’ groups who get schools in their area involved, and also from DOD schools," says Roberts. "We’ve received letters from school children who live on and around military bases all over the world. Germany, Italy, England, Guam, Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, you name it - if we’ve got families there, we’ve received lots of letters from those areas."

The service members who receive these letters of support often write back to thank those who sent them. "We've received thank you letters from Bosnia, Kosovo, Korea, about a dozen different camps in Afghanistan and from countless locations in Iraq.   It's a great confirmation for us when we get these letters back from the troops.   Then we know for sure that these letters are being delivered to the right places."

"I personally wanted to say thank you for the letters sent to my battalion," writes a Battalion Commander from Kirkuk, Iraq. "Mail Call is the highlight of the day. My Battalion has 470 soldiers and I assure you these letters will be read over and over and exchanged between soldiers."

Many of the letters that are written are very inspiring, keeping those at the "Letters TO the Front" headquarters motivated to continue their work. Once such letter was from a Navy veteran who had been a POW for a year when his ship, the USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans who wrote, "Dear Service Member, I just want to say thanks for having the courage to do what is good and right . . . Wherever you are stationed, in whatever billet or rank, you are important. Day in and day out your work helps your squad, your unit, your division . . . You can be certain that you serve a grateful nation. The best nation on the face of the earth and one that is proud of you. Because of your faithful service in the United States Armed Forces, our children and grandchildren will enjoy the blessings of liberty."

"It means a great deal to us that we are delivering actual letters into the hands of our troops," states Roberts. "It’s one thing for military personnel to go to a web site and find notes from the home front posted by people who support the military. That’s great! But, never underestimate the value of an actual letter, written by hand. It’s very personal and traveled a long way to get there. Many soldiers have told us that they put them in their pocket and pull them out when they need a word of encouragement."

And sending that encouragement to America’s men and women serving the military is exactly what the "Letters TO The Front" Letter Writing Campaign is all about. Since 1992, the Defense Commissary Agency and General Mills have worked hand in hand with Rector*Roberts Productions to make it possible for the popular play, "Letters From The Front," to tour military bases around the world. Because of the theme of the production, expanding the project to include a letter writing campaign for the troops was a natural. This year marks the 15th National Military Base Tour for the ever popular production and the 7th Annual Letter Writing Campaign.

Anyone may participate and no purchase is required. Letters of support should be postmarked by Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2005, so that letters can be processed in hopes of delivery for the holidays.  All letters should be mailed to "Letters TO The Front, P. O. Box 25348, Alexandria, VA 22313.

Further information can be found about how to help generate additional letters of support for our troops at: www.letters-from-the-front.com.

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