Love Notes from the Military

“How did you get his/her handwriting on the note?!  He/she is at a remote FOB in Afghanistan… or out to sea on a sub… or deployed months ago!”  

There is a handwritten love note from the deployed service member in every gift set that gets sent out from the troops to their loved ones at home.  And I’m sure they truly reflect their author - some simply sign their name (maybe they think we have time to read the notes, or maybe they're just individuals of few words.) Others write endearing missives.  And other times, a son or daughter will write a letter of appreciation and apology for being a tough kid.  Things are written that might not be said in a text or an email or said out loud.

Clearly, in a box of wonderful and personal gifts (nothing for the house nor kids can be found inside!) the love note in the handwriting they recognize before they even process the words - THAT is the most important thing in the box.

HOW do we do it?  We do what ever it takes.

1. In Person.  Ideally, for the POC and for us, having the form filled out is best at a pre-deployment briefing.  Five minutes in with a quick description, deal out the forms, 5 minutes to fill it out, collect them and we’re on our way.  This can also be handled by a POC but it never hurts to take out a middle step.  And if someone hands us one with out a note, we pull the mom card, hand it back and tell them to go write a note.

2. Via Postal Mail.  For those already deployed, we mail the forms to the POC and he/she is responsible for distribution, collection and returning them.  The only downside is when the mail has trouble catching up with a vessel or simply the delay in delivery.  (Yes, we have received packets of forms 2 weeks after Christmas.  And yes, we still managed to fill them!)  The other challenge is deployed troops are focused on the job at hand, and distribution and collection can be far less efficient. 

We especially like to see the above 2 methods used because when a note is actually written on the form, you can feel the pressure of the pen, sometimes the forms are dirty from being carried with them in their pockets… it’s tangible and effects those receiving them.

3. The last option is by email.  If troops have access to a scanner, they can receive and scan back the form.  Often, a POC will gather and scan the unit’s forms in.  This speaks to the value this program has on the morale of troops in their command!  If they don’t have access to a scanner, we’ll even accept a photo of their handwritten note and drop it in a form at our end.  This is a little more labor intensive but we do what is necessary!

WHEN should troops sign up?

In a word:  Early!  We send out about 1,000 gift sets every holiday and invariably “sell out”.  And for troops getting ready for deployment, knowing this is done, and done well, takes something off their plate.  We’ve had units sign up for the 12 Days of Christmas as early as June.  They might forget they signed up, but they are heroes all over again when the boxes hit the doorstep.

So THAT’s how we capture the handwriting.  How we wrap 12,000 gifts is another adventure…