In this Issue
January 2005

Your Postal Connection
Make "Mail Call" special for your man or woman in uniform
By Maureen Portanova

To Americans serving in the military, nothing is more welcome than mail from home. "Mail Call" brings news and packages and love letters—a vital connection with home that helps to keep spirits high and confidence strong during difficult, dangerous times.

Your Postal Service understands the importance of military mail. Some of us know its value firsthand. Some 235,000 postal employees are veterans—more than 30 percent of our workforce. We go to great lengths to ensure that your military mail gets delivered to the brave men and women who are serving our country with distinction and honor.

Military mail enjoys several well-deserved advantages, whether the final destination is a camp or base in the US or overseas. Each piece that bears an APO or FPO address for an overseas installation costs the same to send as if it were being mailed across town. Even a package going to Afghanistan or Iraq, Bosnia, Germany or Korea, costs the same as one to New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago.

Your soldier, sailor, airman or marine can provide you with the complete and accurate mailing address. Make sure to use it, including the individual's grade, rank or rating; full name; group/division/ship number, and all other coding, so we will be able to deliver your message or gift as quickly as possible. The Postal Service also maintains retail services for many military installations, providing a convenient and inexpensive way for them to stay in touch with all of us back home.

The Postal Service is proud to help bring a little bit of home to those serving our country, no matter where they may be. And we join you in saluting our brave men and women in uniform.

Read previous Postal Connection columns.