From David Emery,
Your Guide to Urban Legends.
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Netlore Archive: Email flier says Christmas cards can be sent to wounded servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center by addressing them to 'A Recovering American Soldier.'

Description: Email flier
Circulating since: October 2007
Status: False (as written)

Email example contributed by Cindi B., 30 October 2007:

A Great Idea!!!

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list.

Comments: One of the consequences of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is that the U.S. Postal Service will no longer deliver mail addressed to "Any Service Member," "A Recovering American Soldier," or any similar generic addressee. This is to protect the safety of American servicemen and women. Likewise, according to a statement dated November 8, 2007, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center will not accept such mail at its facility (though mail addressed to specific individuals will still go through).

The Army recommends instead making donations to one of the nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting the troops and their families listed at www.americasupportsyou.mil, or to the American Red Cross.

Update: The American Red Cross has announced a program to facilitate the collection and distribution of holiday greeting cards for wounded and recovering military personnel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other facilities through December 27, 2007. Packages will not be accepted due to security concerns, but cards and notes to hospitalized servicemen and women may be sent to the following address:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

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Sources and further reading:

Holiday Cards to Wounded and Recovering Soldiers
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 8 November 2007

Everybody's Talkin': Help a Soldier
Times-Mail (Bedford, IN), 7 November 2007

America Supports You
Department of Defense Website offering ways to contact and support U.S. troops and families

Last updated: 12/18/07