Dear American Soldier

Recently, Cable News Network (CNN) posted a very
moving story about U.S. soldiers who have received
letters from fellow Americans. The soldiers fighting
a war on the other side of the world carry with them,
photos and words of encouragement from children
who want to show their patriotic support.

According to Pat Centner, coordinator for AFA's
"Dear American Soldier" campaign, "These letters
are the direct result of AFA supporters who gave
messages of hope to men and women protecting
our country." She says a miracle has allowed AFA
to get over 15,000 letters to the soldiers, despite
the anthrax scare (Read more about this miracle
from an earlier report).

The campaign began last fall, when AFA encouraged
citizens to write letters to soldiers. Both hand-written
letters, and those written via a special Internet site,
are hand delivered by Chaplain (Capt.) Aaron D.
Nowland at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Centner refers to a letter of thanks by Air Force Senior
Master Sergeant Vernon Ash. "Words cannot express
the warm feeling one gets from someone else's caring,"
he wrote, "...it really means a lot to us for the folks at
home to pick up a pen and paper and take the time to
write people they have never met."

Centner recalls one special story about a homesick
soldier. "It seems that when the letters from AFA were
received overseas, they were spread on a table. Soldiers
gathered there and scrambled to grab one or two for
themselves. After a moment, one soldier gasped in
astonishment, 'Oh my, you're not going to believe
this, but this letter is from my daughter!'"

I appeal to all 'Thought & Humor' friends to take a
moment to go online and send a letter "from the heart"
to a member of our service personnel.

Remember to forward this message to your address
list. God bless you for caring and acting!

www.dearamericansoldier.com