Issue 121 - December 2011 - Page 15

Christmas Cards for Recovering American Soldiers

Outline
Message claims that people can send Christmas greetings to wounded soldiers by addressing cards to "A Recovering American soldier" care of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Brief Analysis
The addressing information contained in the message is incorrect. The original Walter Reed Army Medical Center has now closed. See the Detailed Analysis below for valid instructions for sending Holiday Mail for Heroes.

Detailed analysis and references below example.

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Last updated: 17th November 2011
First published: 12th November 2007
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example

Subject: FW: Christmas Cards

GREAT IDEA!! When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you approve, please pass it on.

Detailed Analysis
This message advises recipients that they can send Christmas cards addressed to "A Recovering American soldier" care of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While this might seem like a good way to show support for wounded soldiers, the information in the message is incorrect. Cards sent to "A Recovering American soldier" or similar will not be accepted by Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In fact, the original Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed down in August 2011.

However, cards can be sent to service members via the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" campaign operated by the American Red Cross. Further details about the campaign are available on the American Red Cross website. The article notes:

The holiday season is just around the corner and it�s time again to start thinking about being part of the 2011 American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes. For a fifth year, American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are partnering to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members of our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season.

Please send all mail to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Versions of the message are now circulating via social media websites as well as email. If it should come your way please let the sender know that the address information in the message is incorrect. To reiterate, mail addressed to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center will not reach any recovery soldiers.

In November 2011, a UK based version of the message also began circulating. The UK version also contains incorrect information. For details of the UK version, see:
False - Send Christmas Cards for Recovering Soldiers to Queen Elizabeth Hospital

References:
Walter Reed, In Transit
Holiday Mail for Heroes
False - Send Christmas Cards for Recovering Soldiers to Queen Elizabeth Hospital

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