Request from Afghanistan

Comments: One of the consequences of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is that the U.S. Postal Service will no longer deliver mail addressed to "Any Service Member," "A Recovering American Soldier," or any similar generic addressee.

Summary: Email flier says Christmas cards can be sent to wounded servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center by addressing them to 'A Recovering American Soldier.'

Description: Email flier
Circulating since: October 2007
Status: False (as written)

Email example contributed by Cindi B., 30 October 2007:

A Great Idea!!!

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list.

Comments: One of the consequences of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is that the U.S. Postal Service will no longer deliver mail addressed to "Any Service Member," "A Recovering American Soldier," or any similar generic addressee.

This is to protect the safety of American servicemen and women. Likewise, according to a statement dated November 8, 2007, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center will not accept such mail at its facility (though mail addressed to specific individuals will still go through).

The Army recommends instead making donations to one of the nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting the troops and their families listed at www.americasupportsyou.mil, or to the American Red Cross.

Update: The American Red Cross has announced a program to facilitate the collection and distribution of holiday greeting cards for wounded and recovering military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other facilities through December 10, 2008. It's called "Holiday Mail for Heroes."

Please note: no packages or inserts of any kind will be accepted due to security concerns, but cards and notes to hospitalized servicemen and women may be sent to the following address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

For further details visit the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes website.

Postal Service Offers First-Time Military Discount

For New, Large Flat-Rate Box

WASHINGTON, DC — Planning to send a care package to a U.S. military service member serving abroad? Send it after March 3 to take advantage of a new flat-rate box from the U.S. Postal Service that is 50 percent larger and delivered for $10.95 to an APO/FPO address — $2 less than for domestic destinations.

“This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price for our armed forces serving overseas,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re proud that family and friends will be able to use this new larger-sized box to send much appreciated packages from home to our dedicated troops overseas.”

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box (12" x 12" x 5 ½" or 800 cubic inches) will be available in Post Offices nationwide beginning March 3, but customers can begin ordering them Feb. 20 at usps.com/supplies or by calling 800-610-8734. Some of the new boxes are co-branded with the logo of America Supports You, which is a Department of Defense program that connects citizens offering support to the military and their families.

“It’s terrific that the Postal Service continues to think of ways to help Americans support our troops and their families. Postage is always a concern when shipping care packages, and this new flat-rate box means our home front groups and supportive citizens can do more with their resources,” said Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. “We’re especially pleased that some of the boxes will bear the America Supports You logo reminding our service members that they have our nation’s support.”

The $2 discount is applied when the Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Boxes are shipped to an APO/FPO destination. The two existing flat-rate boxes (11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8" and 11" x 8 ½" x 5 ½"), which currently retail for $8.95 for U.S. addresses, are not available for the military discount. All flat-rate boxes can be used for international shipping.

The new flat-rate boxes will be available in Post Offices starting March 3. The America Supports You branded box will be available online, at select Post Offices near military bases, or by calling 800-610-8734.

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