"My father was in the Vietnam War and the mail was the most important thing to him. He used to tell me how he looked forward to receiving the mail because he knew there would be a letter from his daughter Norma Jean . This was what he always called me. I would write my dad every other day while he was in Vietnam. I think I must have been in my early teens. He would tell me I was the only one he would hear from and we used to talk about that before he passed two years ago. Now I wish I could send him another letter letting him know how much he is missed and loved."
Norma Smith, Postmaster, Midway, AL
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6 comments:
nice story :)
I'm sure there are more like this...
Write that letter anyway and when you're missing him ... read it to remind you of all the wonderful memories :)
Take care...
I can assure you that mail is very important to ANY & ALL military personnel. When I was in the Air Force mail was so important to me!!! During Basic Training and especially when I was serving overseas!!! My Nephew just joined the U.S. Army and is currently in "Boot Camp". I have mailed him about 2 dozen cards in the past 2-3 months because I know how important getting some mail (often) is to someone going thru "Boot Camp." I have heard back from him and he has told me how much he enjoys getting those cards and letters!!! I challenge everyone reading this to send a card or letter to someone serving their country - trust me, they will appreciate it!!!!!!!!!
Mail can be appreciated in other situations, as well.
When I was 20, I worked as a summer camp counselor. I got a piece of mail every day from my boyfriend.
It was SO welcome, and appreciated, and sustaining! I was in an environment that was foreign to me, away from things that were familiar, encountering new challenges.
It was carthartic to be able to write back to him when I felt overwhelmed. It was comforting to read his cards and letters, or listen to the cassette tapes he recorded for me, when I felt lonely.
It helped cement our relationship, which began just a few months before camp started. ... I ended up marrying him :)
The favorite part of my job is making sure that my town's soldiers get their care packages. I was not able to send my dad packages because he was missing in action but I make sure that all the packages that leave my office are packed securely and the customs forms are accurate and complete. My customers claim that the ones I help them with get their sooner (maybe because there is no missing information?) I have had several service men and women home on leave come in to thank me because their families told them how much help I was in getting the packages ready. God Bless our soldiers and sailors.
Believe it or not, college students LOVE to get letters (even if no money is with it). My daughter told me often she was so glad to get a letter of postcard from me. Her roommate and college peers said the same thing.
Email was quick and nice but they all said a letter was much better.
When my son was stationed in Afghanistan, he always looked forward to the mail. He had very limited internet access, maybe once a month or two so he always looked forward to getting our letters in the mail. That's pretty much the best connection they have with their families. They can reread them anytime they miss home and it brings them back. If you know anyone in the military stationed away from home, please mail them some letters. You--and they--will be glad you did.
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