USPS, in cooperation with the Department of Defense (DoD), is reminding Americans to mail early when sending holiday cards and packages to troops overseas.
The Postal Service also is reminding Americans to do the right thing. Patriotic acts of support by some well-intentioned individuals and groups risk creating bottlenecks in the military?s mailstream, delaying delivery to service members.
Shortly after 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, DoD suspended Operation Dear Abby and other mail addresses, such as ?Any Service Member,? ?Any Soldier,? ?Any Marine, Sailor,? etc., due to concerns about mail from unknown sources. These programs remain suspended.
DoD has requested that Americans extend their support through activities listed at these websites:
www.defendamerica.mil under the ?Support Our Troops? section;
www.operationuplink.org; or by calling the Military Postal Service Agency?s toll-free number 800-810-6098 to identify other programs.
Below are the recommended mailing dates for those sending holiday cards and gifts to military members. Items for delivery by Hanukkah should be mailed five days prior to the dates noted below.
APO/FPO ZIP Codes beginning with 093: Letters, cards and Priority Mail, Dec. 4; Parcel Airlift Mail, Nov. 26.
All other APO/FPO ZIP Codes: Letters, cards and Priority Mail, Dec. 11; Parcel Airlift Mail, Dec. 4; Space Available Mail, Nov. 28.
Topic: Recommended dates for sending mail to military members overseas (Read 1921 times)