Free military mail, Bringing holiday spirit beyond Canada

[styky]

Free military mail
Bringing holiday spirit beyond Canada

By BROOKES MERRITT, <a href=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2007/10/26/4608868.html>SUN MEDIA</a>



Family and friends of soldiers in Afghanistan can mail them parcels and letters for free until Jan. 11, 2008, the federal government said Friday.
Families must send mail through Canada Post full-service retail outlets, and can also use the service to reach out to soldiers serving in any warzone, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Sinai Peninsula, Jerusalem and on Canadian ships at sea.

The service aims to give loved ones a chance to spread the holiday spirit beyond Canadian borders, said MP John Williams, who represents constituents in St. Albert and an area in north Edmonton where many military families live.

“Canadian Forces members and their families are an integral part of the fabric of our community,” Williams said in a news release.

“Constituents … welcome the opportunity to show support for the brave men and women … serving abroad.”

To send a parcel or letter to a soldier, address it with their name, rank and mission information.

Items must be taken to Canada Post outlets in order to be shipped for free and cannot be dropped in street letter boxes without postage.

Free parcel delivery expires Jan. 11, but Canada Post will continue to mail letters to soldiers free of charge throughout 2008.

Williams commended Canada Post for picking up the bill for the free mail service, although it’s in fact Canadian taxpayers he should be thanking, as Canada Post is an arm of the federal government.

Postal workers union president Brian Henderson said most Edmontonians would gladly support the service.

“The Christmas season is especially difficult for our soldiers when they are away from their families. To be able to do something like this, and save their friends and families a few dollars while bringing them some cheer, is a great morale booster,” he said.

Henderson figured at least a few Edmonton postal workers work as reservists and remain highly respected by their letter-carrying colleagues.

“It’s a trying time to be a Canadian soldier. We deliver the mail, so we understand how important it can be to receive something special from a loved one over the holidays.”

brookes.merritt@sunmedia.ca

[The Crusader]

I like 3 things about this article:

1. The usage of Canadian soldier instead of "peace keeper"

2 The words Christmas season instead of "holiday season"

3. My stolen money is being used for good instead of evil for a change.

[WestViking]

To send a parcel or letter to a soldier, address it with their name, rank and mission information.

OK, where can FD members who do not have family or friends serving get the needed info to send off a letter or parcel. This is not info we can pick up readily. Those in the know please help those who are not.

[styky]

To send a parcel or letter to a soldier, address it with their name, rank and mission information.

OK, where can FD members who do not have family or friends serving get the needed info to send off a letter or parcel. This is not info we can pick up readily. Those in the know please help those who are not.

I sent a PM to Muddy who is the usual go to guy here for that information. Hopefully he's around

[justanothervoice]

What is the name of the Christmas effort to send gift packages to deployed armed forces people?
Does anyone have the name or info on what to send and where to send it?

[J.B. Stone]

Beautiful.....


PLEASE take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

I've found that collecting items for "care packages" is a snap, but the COST of mailing them is prohibitive.

GOOD PLAN....

[J.B. Stone]

What is the name of the Christmas effort to send gift packages to deployed armed forces people?
Does anyone have the name or info on what to send and where to send it?

brookes.merritt@sunmedia.ca

[RedDog]

I like 3 things about this article:

1. The usage of Canadian soldier instead of "peace keeper"

2 The words Christmas season instead of "holiday season"

3. My stolen money is being used for good instead of evil for a change.

Exactly! Maybe a proper "country" can be made of this mess again yet.

I pop into a Tim Hortons downtown here a couple mornings a week to get a sandwich made up for lunch. They feature changing photos of Alberta boys in Afghanistan with details on family back here. Nice touch.

[J.B. Stone]

I like 3 things about this article:

1. The usage of Canadian soldier instead of "peace keeper"

2 The words Christmas season instead of "holiday season"

3. My stolen money is being used for good instead of evil for a change.

Exactly! Maybe a proper "country" can be made of this mess again yet.

I pop into a Tim Hortons downtown here a couple mornings a week to get a sandwich made up for lunch. They feature changing photos of Alberta boys in Afghanistan with details on family back here. Nice touch.

A number of the grocery chains have a big window here with such photos and I think I saw one at WalMart, also.



Believe me, it's a GREAT boost to the morale of the family members with loved ones in harm's way.

[Roy Wilson]

A number of the grocery chains have a big window here with such photos and I think I saw one at WalMart, also.

Believe me, it's a GREAT boost to the morale of the family members with loved ones in harm's way.

Sure is JB, not enough of that here though.

[styky]

Bump it to the top

[Phi]

To send a parcel or letter to a soldier, address it with their name, rank and mission information.

OK, where can FD members who do not have family or friends serving get the needed info to send off a letter or parcel. This is not info we can pick up readily. Those in the know please help those who are not.

I can help WV.

Nice to see you btw.


I have sent care packages to our troops, I can show you how.
PM me.

I sent a movie night:

2 Movies
10 pack of microwave popcorn
8 pack of peanuts
2 x 4 packs of 'Eat-more' bars (They don't melt in the summer heat).
2 x Gold Bond foot powder


They told me they liked knowing the people back home were thinking about them.

[styky]

To send a parcel or letter to a soldier, address it with their name, rank and mission information.

OK, where can FD members who do not have family or friends serving get the needed info to send off a letter or parcel. This is not info we can pick up readily. Those in the know please help those who are not.

I can help WV.

Nice to see you btw.


I have sent care packages to our troops, I can show you how.
PM me.

I sent a movie night:

2 Movies
10 pack of microwave popcorn
8 pack of peanuts
2 x 4 packs of 'Eat-more' bars (They don't melt in the summer heat).
2 x Gold Bond foot powder


They told me they liked knowing the people back home were thinking about them.

Fantastic and you have given me food for thought.

[styky]

<a href=http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/messageboard/index_e.asp>Let your Canadian Forces members know you appreciate their service by sending a message using this monitored message board</a>


------------------------------------------------

<a href=http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/amenities/opsanta/santa.asp>Operation Santa Claus</a> - Operation Santa Claus (OSC) is a highly successful program that sends deployed Canadian Forces members a Christmas gift package filled with items donated by Canadian corporations. Packages also include letters and Christmas cards from school children and loved ones. These special packages bring a feeling of home to those deployed Canadian Forces members serving in remote Canadian locations and overseas.

[Muddy]

Although I raise money to help our troops I don`t actually spend it. I do have a vote on how we spend it though. I leave the actual spending up to others in the regimental association to handle. I do know that sending bulk is very expensive. Wounded Warriors is a great outfit that we have been working with. We aquired jackets for wounded guys with the Wounded Warrior logo on them and Capt Wayne Johnson is distributing a kit to all wounded soldiers who find themselves seriously wounded in the American military hospital in Germany. I suggest that you can either go through them or my own regimental association that has been dedicated to helping young soldiers since 1916. The Queens Own Rifles of Canada Association. Contact is CSM (ret)Bob Dunk our President at rjdunk@rogers.com or Capt. (ret)Buzz at buzzjocurrie@rogers.com.
Watch out or they will try and sell you tickets for our next fund raiser.LOL
Sorry I have not been more help. But I personally really appreciate your concern for the morale of our troops. I wish more of our socalled leaders in our country and communitys did! Unfortunately try to make political points
by on the one hand giving lip service of support,to the troops ,but then condemning their mission. Fortunately our troops know they are making a difference in that country and their mission is just.