{"id":6660,"date":"2009-11-25T10:00:52","date_gmt":"2009-11-25T15:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.AchieveMax.com\/blog\/?p=6660"},"modified":"2013-07-05T11:54:36","modified_gmt":"2013-07-05T15:54:36","slug":"your-holiday-assignment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/achievemax.com\/blog\/2009\/11\/25\/your-holiday-assignment\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Holiday Assignment!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I realize you’ll all be very busy with family and friends tomorrow feasting on fantastic food, watching football most of the day, and giving thanks for all of your wonderful blessings. Relax and enjoy every minute of this once-a-year traditional opportunity which some may take for granted.<\/p>\n

I realize you may be busy on Friday as well as many of you will be hitting stores and malls starting at 3 a.m. in some places to take advantage of those many “Black Friday” specials for Christmas. Then you have the weekend trying to recover from the previous two days of chaos and turmoil! Take the entire weekend to enjoy more football, some basketball, and plenty of left-overs.<\/p>\n

However, when the first of next week rolls around,\u00a0pause for just a moment and appreciate how much you’ve enjoyed the past few days. Realize how fortunate you are to be surrounded by loved ones at this very special time of the year. Then think for just a moment about the 1.4 million men and women who are protecting us as we celebrate this treasured holiday season.<\/p>\n

These Guardian Angels are scattered all over the planet … far from their families and loved ones and far from their homes. They are obviously out of our site\u2014but far from out of our hearts and minds! PLEASE, take just a moment out of your busy schedule and read about this special program that provides us an opportunity to thank those who are risking their lives so that we may enjoy ours in a safe and secure country.<\/p>\n

After tremendous success last year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program is back again this year.<\/p>\n

In this season of hope and giving the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, Inc. have joined forces to invite Americans to “send a touch of home” to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad. In its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program is an opportunity to share joy and thanks with our service members throughout the holiday season by way of a greeting card.<\/p>\n

Today, more than 1.4 million men and women serve in the U.S. armed forces and over 24 million veterans have served in the past. The holiday season is the perfect time to honor and extend a warm holiday greeting to those who’ve served and continue to do so.<\/p>\n

How Holiday Mail works:<\/p>\n

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, Inc. have established an extensive process to ensure all cards sent to our service members are safe and arrive in time for the holidays. Holiday cards will be collected through a unique P.O. Box address from Monday, November 2 through Monday, December 7*.<\/p>\n

This unique program makes it easy for all of us to say “Thanks!” and “We’re thinking of you!” to these brave Americans, particularly to the millions of soldiers who will be overseas and away from their families during the holidays.<\/p>\n

Here’s how it works:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Between now and the cut-off date of Monday, December 7th, you send a card to:
    \nHoliday Mail for Heroes
    \nP.O. Box 5456
    \nCapitol Heights, MD 20791-5456<\/li>\n
  2. Pitney Bowes screens the cards to make sure they’re safe (no hazardous materials) and forwards them to participating Red Cross chapters nationwide.<\/li>\n
  3. The Red Cross sorts and reviews the cards, and distributes them to service members, their families and veterans<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It’s so easy you could fit it in with your errands today!<\/p>\n

    They do have some basic rules:<\/p>\n