Do good.

I had a high school teacher who drove around with a bumper sticker on her car that said simply, “Remember the Vietnam Veteran”.  It is perhaps because of her, my fascination with all generations that predate me, or simply an abiding sense of empathy that has compelled me to keep veterans in my own heart.  My oldest brother Fred is a veteran of our current war, and although he and I have never been on the same page with regards to the politics surrounding this war, I am fiercely proud of him and am able to easily compartmentalize the folks that do the bidding versus those that execute the orders.  With that in mind, I thought I would ask you new and old friends, to take a moment of your day to send a card to a recovering soldier.  Imagine what joy a few strokes of your pen and a 42 cent stamp could bring to a man or woman waiting to hear a word of encouragement.  Simplicity at its finest, and perhaps most powerful.

UPDATED: Following 9/11, we can no longer send generic letters to “A Recovering Soldier” (thanks for the heads up, Morgan!) so I called Walter Reed this morning and was told that we CAN send cards to the following address, just put the card(s) inside of another envelope and don’t write anything on the enclosed envelope(s).  They also ask that you don’t send any cards with glitter on them as the glitter can get into bandages etc, and of course keep them upbeat!

The American Red Cross
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW: Building 2, Room 3E05
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001