Sgt. Billy Thompson probably didn’t know what he would start when he set pen to paper and wrote his fateful letter to syndicated advice columnist Abigail Van Buren. A wonderful Christmas present, Thompson wrote, would be “a letter from home.”
That was when the mails were safe – hundreds of thousands of letters have been sent addressed to “Any Service Member” and now, the Pentagon has announced that the program is indefinitely suspended.
While Americans are deployed overseas, they can’t get a letter from a stranger. Any stranger, just saying that somebody’s thinking about them, proud of them, missing them. Sorry they’re not here, but thankful that they’re out there doing their jobs.
Dear Soldier,
I know it’s difficult to be away from your loved ones during this holiday season. Far from home, risking your life every day to protect our country is not easy. But I want you to know that there are a lot of us back home here counting on you, and we are proud of you. We are proud of all our service members, and the sacrifices they make so that Americans all over the world can remain free. Thanks. Happy Holidays.
My grandmother told me that the toughest Christmas she ever faced was when my uncle was overseas. My uncle, an airman stationed at Clark Air Force Base, Luzon, Philippines couldn’t come home for the holidays. She said that she never had a more miserable Christmas, and I can just imagine what it was like for my uncle.
Dear Airman,
Happy Holidays. Thanks for choosing to serve your country in its time of need. I’m sure your family is very proud of you, as we all our of our service members. Take care of yourself, and remember that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
The United States Navy is not letting anthrax scares stop them though. The Navy has set up a website, http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/ where anyone with access to the Internet can leave a message of support and care for our troops. The Navy has been deployed since Sept. 11, on the highest level of alert. That takes its toll on sailors and Marines. Not knowing what’s going to happen is very stressful. They are now thousands of miles from home, with the holidays just around the corner.
Dear Sailor,
You’re far from home at a time when family is so important. It’s not easy, but you’ve made that sacrifice, becoming a sailor in the greatest navy in the world. Happy Holidays to you and your shipmates, and thanks so much for keeping us safe.
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is now deployed in southern Afghanistan, where they have set up a forward base for the US Central Command. These are some of the best-trained troops in the US arsenal. There is nothing more deadly than a Marine with his rifle – they are some of the best marksmen in the world. They are going to need all their training in this mission.
The United States Marines have served our country time and again. Embarked on US Navy ships, the Marines have been America’s quick response for hundreds of years.
Dear Marine,
Happy Holidays to you and your fellow Marines. Thank you very much for serving America. We are so very proud of you. Whenever there is trouble, the United States has always sent in the Marines. You are the best of the best, and never forget that a lot of us back home are thinking about you. Stay safe.
The Any Service Member program has given thoughts and greetings to so many soldiers around the world. Whether deployed in Afghanistan, on station in the Arabian Gulf, watching the DMZ in Korea, or patrolling the No Fly Zones in Iraq, service members of the United States provide the force necessary to protect American interests and freedoms around the world. Wherever troops are deployed, America has an interest. No matter where, Americans owe a great debt to the men and women who serve our country. And now, as the holidays approach, and we sit here, studying for finals, worrying about the little things that seem so important to us, somewhere out there is a soldier, far from home, doing a job that nobody else has the guts or the integrity to do. So Happy Holidays to our men and women in uniform, and thanks for your sacrifice. We will not forget it, or forget you. You are in our thoughts, our prayers, and our holiday wishes.
