I may be in the minority on this one. Sometimes I wonder about the real value of a gesture such as the one urged by the lieutenant governor:
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman is urging Indiana residents to write letters and send cards to troops during the upcoming holiday season.
Skillman's office received about 20,000 cards for troops last year, and officials hope to top that this year.
Care packages are usually welcomed from any source. But I'd say send your cards and letters to troops you actually know. It's always a pleasure to hear from friends and families, and sometimes there is the unexpected pleasure of hearing from someone you weren't sure would think of you while you were gone. But getting cards and letters from well-meaning strangers can make some soldiers, especially the ones with few or no contact with friends and relatives back in the world, feel even lonelier than usual.
Oh, go ahead. It can't hurt, and the curmudgeon in me is probably working overtime because of the lousy weather this week.
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Actually I know of a family that did this during the 1st gulf war.
Guess what- they are still friends with the soldier who received the card. He was happy to hear a "thank you" from a complete stranger. When he got back, he came to Fort Wayne to visit them and has kept in touch ever since!