People have differing opinions about the war, but most people agree that the men and women that make up each of our armed forces are brave individuals, worthy of our gratitude. If your children would like to support our troops, or you want to teach them ways to show gratitude, please consider sending some items through the Any Soldier program. You can send gifts, but your children can also make cards and write letters, which would mean a lot, especially to those soldiers that don’t get very much mail or don’t get any at all.
That’s how the Any Soldier program got started. A Sergeant, who was stationed in Iraq at the time, started the program to lift up his soldiers. It has now expanded to reach every soldier on active duty.
Imagine being on the front lines, serving your country, and feeling so alone. This feeling can only be multiplied as a soldier watches others receive various letters, cards, packages, and gifts from home. We can’t stand beside them to help them fight this war, but we can certainly show them that they are in our thoughts and that we care.
Even if you can’t send supplies, please take a few moments to write notes, postcards, or help your children make pictures and cards. This is a simple way to reach out and show support.
Here are some ideas:
- Use patriotic clip art images to decorate cards or notes, or have children draw their own images. Try American flags, eagles, Armed Forces logos, or the yellow “support our troops” ribbon.
- Pick up a package of thank you notes at your local stationary or greeting card store. Choose those that are blank inside and have children write their own personal messages.
- Help children make simple paper crafts or pictures with patriotic themes. You can find lots of red, white, and blue, paper products with Fourth of July quickly approaching.
- Encourage your children to get their friends involved, or invite several children over to help (with parent’s permission of course).