Please let me make this suggestion:

[polmaven]

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20307-5001. 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.

[HopeHoops]

1. I thought they were closing Walter Reed.

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. The old facility was closed. It was merged with Bethesda to create

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I would address envelopes to that, and not the old name, but I'm sure they'll get there.

[HopeHoops]

5. Thanks. I knew it was something like that but couldn't remember the details.

[polmaven]

4. As far as I know

it has not been closed, just merged.

[HappyMe]

2. Awesome idea.

Will do.

[Hissyspit]

8. See Posts 6 & 7. nt

[Hissyspit]

6. Nope. Sorry. Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/walterreed.asp



Mail to Wounded and Recovering Soldiers

Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages and letters, addressed to "Any Wounded Soldier" that Walter Reed will not be accepting these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "Any Wounded Service Member" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered.

Instead of sending an "Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil

[Hissyspit]

7. Do this instead:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp

Claim:   Americans can send holiday cards to service members and veterans through the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program.

TRUE

Summary:
Christmas cards sent to soldiers through the Red Cross-sponsored "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program will reach their intended recipients.
Christmas cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier" sent to Walter Reed Hospital will not reach their intended recipients.
Origins:   Recent years have seen several Internet-based grass-roots promotions of programs that enable the public to send letters, cards,

gifts, and other greetings to U.S. troops serving overseas or recovering in stateside hospitals, particularly around the holiday season. Unfortunately, many such promotions (such as the "Recovering American Soldier" effort) have not worked out as well as hoped due to insufficient organization, deadlines, security concerns, and other factors.

As they have done in the past, for the 2011 holiday season the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are sponsoring a "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program to distribute holiday cards to service members, a program that encompasses not just troops who are recovering in military hospitals but also service members stationed throughout the U.S. and abroad, as well as veterans and their families.

The cards should be addressed to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456
As noted on the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" section of the American Red Cross' web site, all cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, 9 December 2011. Cards postmarked after that will be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays.

[HappyMe]

9. Thank you for that info. nt