Injured Soldiers

[Helen]

I am very disappointed in this nation of ours!  I had received e-mails about sending cards to recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital.  I saw journal posts about this here on Cafe Mom.  As a teacher, I thought that this would be a way to teach my students a little patriotism and a whole lot of giving.  They attacked my cards and wrote them to the soldiers.  I mailed them out using my own postage. 

Well, when I got them back as undeliverable, I was shocked!  I checked my e-mail and the address was right.  But, why is it that I got them back?  I asked my dh who is a postal worker.  It wasn't a postal problem.  The hospital is refusing them!  Not to be mean, but the hospital is protecting the soldiers.  They are protecting them from the mean people who send cards that are not nice.  They are mean and full of hate.  My students cards were not that way.  They were filled with love. 

To get a teenager, especially an inner city school, to do something like this made me soooo happy.  I am not telling them what happened.  I am letting them think that they did a good deed for somebody.  They don't need to feel the disappointment that I feel about how a couple of bad eggs ruined it for the rest of us.  Why do people have to be so mean?  These men and women are doing their jobs.  And to top it off they got hurt doing so.

 

[my_three_sons]

Jan. 3, 2008 at 11:16 PM I have a family daycare and I had my daycare kids also sign and make cards.  I was really upset that they sent them back to me!  It took forever for my 5 yr old daycare girl to write her name 50 times!  I also did not tell my kids what had happened! They would be so disappointed! I know I was. 

[usafwife314]

Jan. 3, 2008 at 11:21 PM

I can understand where they are coming from, and I can understand where you are coming from.  Things have to be very secure, especially in a hosptial!  I know it hurts, but it's for their safety as well.

My husband is currently deployed to Iraq.  he is volunteering at the hospital there.  If you would like to send them to him, he has told me before that he would be more than willing to hand the cards out to the wounded soldiers over there. 

[tmjepsen]

Jan. 3, 2008 at 11:23 PM

Having family and friends actively serving in the military and I can tell you how just a simple card can change their day.  And unfortunately it is true that people were sending cards and letters that were less than supportive to hospitals.  It's also sad to learn that there are many serving that never hear their names at mail call.  Either they don't have family back home, or their families can't afford to send anything.  And phones and email is scarce over there. 

I adopted a soldier and would be more than happy to send your cards in a care package to him -- he hands them out to others on his base that don't ever receive any mail or packages from home.  Also, if you go to www.soldiersangels.com you can sign up to adopt a soldier.

I am always getting requests from Chaplains and other soldiers or unit leaders asking for something as simple as a card or letter for men and women (even treats for the special unit dogs!) serving.  I would be more than happy to send any cards, letters or packages to them for you (I cannot give you their mailing info -- it's a rule of the website).  If you want, please feel free to email me!

 Loving our men and women serving in uniform ~ Tanya