There are many ways to support our troops, but some are more effective than others. Driving around with a faded yellow magnetic ribbon on your car is not a very impressive commitment.
If you want to send packages or mail to troops, there are several easy to use options:
This page offers another option - write a letter to your elected officials on a matter concerning our troops, such as reimbursement for personal purchases of needed equipment or the efforts by the Veterans Administration cut benefits. I will also include cases where it appears that deploying troops or their families have been badly treated by employers. I will include no letters concerning the conduct of operations in Iraq, focusing instead on supporting our troops. Below are letters in Microsoft Word format. They can be downloaded and customized. Letters are much more powerful than emails and customized letters more powerful than form letters..
Letters to United States Senators can be addressed to them at Washington, DC 20510. Letters to United States Representatives can be addressed to them at Washington, D.C. 20515. Both the House and Senate have their own Zip Codes, so no office or street address is needed. Project Vote Smart can be used to find your elected officials.
Letter 4 - Army wife fired for seeing husband off to war. Write the company. Article.
Letter 3 - Soldier won't have his job upon return. When Capt. Brian Dieckhoff traveled to Camp Shelby, Miss., on Saturday, he left knowing his job wouldn't be waiting for him when he returns from the Middle East. The hospital he worked at forced his resignation when he took unpaid leave. Possibly legal, but worthy of a letter. Write to the hospital. More Information.
Letter 2 - In August, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans to review 72,000 cases where veterans had received a 100 percent disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder. While the VA has justified this as a routine review, critics call it a way for the department to save money by shirking its duty to care for disabled veterans. One veteran committed suicide after hearing about plans for the review. Officials from New Mexico found the man, a Vietnam veteran, with information regarding the review beside his Purple Heart when he took his life. Article.
Letter 1 - The General Accounting Office (GAO) found that approximately 16,000 active duty members of the U.S. military file for bankruptcy each year. The current bankruptcy laws provide little protection for active duty military. The G.I. Protection Amendment has the support of the Military Officers Association of America, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the National Consumer Law Center, the National Association for the Uniformed Services, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States and the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. Press release.