I've gotten this email twice already and have let the sender know that their cards won't be accepted, if they do that.

We are interested in participating and we know about the issue. But how do we do this so they can actually receive cards?

Last year I sent cards via the Red Cross at Walter Reed. I can't say they for sure they were distributed, but they weren't returned.

I just heard an announcement on CNN about an hour ago asking folks to send cards to "any wounded soldier" at Walter Reed, and gave the mailing address.

Please, please, please DO NOT send Christmas cards to Walter Reed. I know that there are mixed reports out there, but I have seen it first hand. Cards without return addresses are sorted and returned to the postal facility. Cards that have return addresses are sorted, Walter Reed address and bar code marked out, and a card from the post commander saying, "Thank you, but don't send anymore." is hand addressed by the Soldiers that the cards are intended for, and returned to sender.

I know that many people did not have their letters returned because of the volume of mail. Wounded Warrior worked from 0800-1500 every weekday from November until March to return the nearly 1 million pieces of mail, but the "Walter Reed" scandal story broke and brought an end to the mail room operation to return the mail.

I can only assume that the mail that was not returned was destroyed.

I hope that this brings perspective as to WHY NOT send Christmas cards to Walter Reed.

VFW Post 8208, PO Box 653, Ruckersville VA 22968 will be happy to deliver Cards, Letters, Gifts and donations to our wounded troops at all the DC area Hospitals.
See www.adoptasoldier.us or http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6163463
We have been at Walter Reed since the war started and know how to get things to the troops.

Bigjohn

John Miska CDR
VFW Post 8208
PH 4347601940

From what I understand you can send cards to :

We Support You During Your REcovery
c/o American Red Cross
PO Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

they will open and sort/bundle these cards and send them out. It is a safety measure not only for "hate" cards but the terrorist times we are living in. These soldiers need to know we care and respect them not send notes that say "baby killer" on them.