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Bringing joy to all ‘Heroes’

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The American Red Cross partnered with the Tyndall Library and hosted an event Nov. 19 where children and adults made holiday cards for veterans, deployed service members and wounded warriors.

"This year, you can give a gesture that brings happiness, by sending a greeting to a military service member or veteran during our Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign," said Tanya Holloway, American Red Cross disaster specialist.

The Holiday Mail for Heroes program started Sept. 30 and ends early in December, she said.

"Holiday Mail for Heroes is a spectacular program," Holloway said. "Once I heard about the program, I wanted to become part of it."

For the past eight years, the Red Cross has been teaming up with the military and hosting the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, Holloway said.

"Collaborating with the Red Cross was a rewarding experience and the kids love knowing they will make a difference for deployed service members who will not be home for the holidays," said a Tyndall Library staff member. "It was amazing to see children excited about supporting the library and our military."


Through the course of the program more than six million cards have been sent out to deployed service members, veterans and wounded warriors.

"Service to the armed forces is a major component to the Red Cross," said Holloway. "We feel that it is important to be involved with the military and community."

To make and send out a card follow the American Red Cross instructions:
· Ensure that all cards are signed.
· Use generic salutations such as, Dear Service Member. Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program.
· Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters.
· Do not include email or home addresses on the cards. The program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
· Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos. These items will be removed during the reviewing process.
· Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
· If you are mailing a large quantity of cards, please bundle them and place them in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Each card doesn't need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution.

When finished all cards should be postmarked by Dec. 6 for guaranteed delivery at the following address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Individuals can send cards year round to a local Red Cross office.