Freedom is not free.

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a national "Holiday Mail for Heroes" campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to service members and veterans both in the United States and abroad.
Holiday Mail for Heroes, which began Tuesday, Veterans Day, is a follow-up to the 2007 effort that resulted in the collection and distribution of more than 600,000 cards to hospitalized service members. This year's program will expand its reach to not only wounded service members but also veterans and their families. The goal is to collect and distribute 1 million pieces of holiday mail.

"As we enter this holiday season-a time to celebrate with family and friends-it's important to remember the thousands of men and women who serve our nation in harm's way and those who are recovering in military and veterans hospitals," said Army Col. Norvell V. Coots, commander, Walter Reed Health Care System. 'The Holiday Mail for Heroes' program is a wonderful outreach effort and a great way to acknowledge the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform."

Holiday cards should be mailed to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456
All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10.

Cards should not be mailed or delivered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

For more information, visit http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/ or www.redcross.org/holidaymail for Holiday Mail for Heroes program guidelines.

My brother Joe with his little man, Cage.

He will deploy for his 3rd time in February.

Joe in Iraq