A moment matters - take the time to thank our troops
 |
| Photo courtesy of Xerox Corp. - Card designed by Heilyn, age 8, from Apopka, Fla |
Imagine being a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. You’re exhausted and cold after a long patrol, every muscle in your body aching from the tension of being at a heightened level of awareness for eight hours. All you want to do is get a warm meal and collapse into your bunk, but when you get back to the base, you discover there’s a card waiting for you. It’s not from your mom, your girlfriend or even your little brother. It’s a thank you card drawn by an eight-year old girl you’ve never met and sent by a family you don’t even know. That card evokes memories of home and helps you remember why you volunteered to take on this dangerous duty.
While we all appreciate the dedication of our men and women serving in the armed forces, we don’t often have the opportunity to personally thank them for all they do to keep us safe and preserve our freedoms. That’s why Xerox Corp. launched Let’s Say Thanks. “Let’s Say Thanks started with two on-site card drives – one held in Atlanta in December 2005 and the second in Phoenix at the FBR Open in February 2006,” explains Doug Lord, president of Xerox U.S. Solutions Group. “More than 10,000 postcards were mailed through these local events. Because of the overwhelming response, Xerox rolled out a national campaign, in conjunction with the 2006 Fourth of July holiday, which included the launch of www.LetsSayThanks.com.”
While we all appreciate the dedication of our men and women serving in the armed forces, we don’t often have the opportunity to personally thank them for all they do to keep us safe and preserve our freedoms. That’s why Xerox Corp. launched Let’s Say Thanks. “Let’s Say Thanks started with two on-site card drives – one held in Atlanta in December 2005 and the second in Phoenix at the FBR Open in February 2006,” explains Doug Lord, president of Xerox U.S. Solutions Group. “More than 10,000 postcards were mailed through these local events. Because of the overwhelming response, Xerox rolled out a national campaign, in conjunction with the 2006 Fourth of July holiday, which included the launch of www.LetsSayThanks.com.”
People can visit LetsSayThanks.com, select their favorite of several postcards designed by children and then either write or choose a prewritten message to send to a soldier. Xerox prints the cards on its paper and equipment, and mails them in care packages to deployed troops through the military support organization Give2TheTroops®. “Social responsibility has been ingrained in the Xerox culture since its earliest days as a company. The Let’s Say Thanks program provides one more outlet for the company to deliver value to the community and support the men and women stationed overseas,” Lord says.
This free and simple program has made a difference in the lives of the soldiers it has touched. As one Air Force staff sergeant wrote: “I myself have children ages 7 (girl) and 4 (boy) whom I miss so dearly! Seeing the artwork and the messages ‘praying and wishing for your safe return’ that others write really brings a tear to my eye. It is very touching to know that the kids back home know why we are here defending our country and that they are very active in supporting us.”
More than 16 million messages of support have been sent to troops overseas through this program to date, but its founders are not stopping there. As Lord explains: “Whether it’s July Fourth, the winter holiday season or a regular day during the year, Let’s Say Thanks is a year-round program where people can send messages of support to overseas troops through the website and local card drives.”
So next time you find yourself spending a few idle minutes online, take a moment to make a real difference to the men and women who do so much for us.
“Thank you for sending the postcards to our unit! While soldiers routinely grab all the snacks, toiletries, magazines and books out of care packages, it is the letters, cards and postcards with heartfelt messages that mean the most and truly remind us that the folks back home care and appreciate what we do.” - A member of the military police
