Here’s a website to explore in honor of Veteran's Day. At “Any Soldier Dot Com,” you can get the address of a soldier and send a "care package.
The website was started by a soldier. Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Air Force and Coast Guard personnel sign up with the website. Any member of the armed services in harm’s way is eligible. The gifts are shared, but soldiers and sailors who don’t get any mail are given things first.
You can order treats online to be sent, or make up your own package. Items which are always appreciated include (in no particular order): clean socks, candy, books, toiletries, phone cards, snacks, DVD’s, beanie babies (to give to children), etc.
I usually make up my own packages to send. At the post office I ask for pre-paid Priority Mail boxes, labels and customs declarations. These are free. Because the boxes are sent to APO addresses, you do not need airmail postage. The boxes, regardless of weight, are a flat fee to mail, which I think is about $9, although it could have just gone up.You know those toiletries the hotels give you when you travel? I save those up and fill up a box with them, paperback books and candy of the season (Halloween, etc.)
I don’t think of it as a big deal—it’s just a small way of thanking them for their service. And it's a way for me to say that although I'm against the war, I think about the troops.
If you have a favorite activity you do for our service men and women, leave a comment and let us know.
(I put a version of this post up on Memorial Day. I've updated and edited it to re-post today.)
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