By Karen King
Manager, Public Relations
Manager, Public Relations
On Veteran’s Day, hundreds of Americans stopped by to sign “Holiday Mail for Heroes” cards under a large tent set up on 17th Street across from the National Mall and the White House. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Washington, DC and it was incredibly inspiring to see so many people coming together to share their appreciation, well wishes and holiday greetings for our military service members, veterans and their families. Students, families, federal workers, veterans and active duty military members all stopped to sign messages of thanks and support for Holiday Mail for Heroes. Now in its fourth year, the joint initiative between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes enables Americans to send holiday greetings to our U.S. armed forces, veterans, and their families.
The importance of sending messages and cards to our military members and veterans also hit home during the event while listening to the moving messages, and personal experiences shared by: Gail McGovern with the American Red Cross; Vicki O’Meara with Pitney Bowes; Amy Grant, contemporary music artist, member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet and spokesperson for Holiday Mail for Heroes; General Gene Renuart (Ret.), United States Air Force; and Brigadier General Richard Simcock, United States Marine Corps.
(from left to right) Gail McGovern, president and CEO, American Red Cross; Vicki O'Meara, executive vice president and president, Pitney Bowes Management Services; and Amy Grant, contemporary music artist and American Red Cross celebrity cabinet member; sign cards for U.S. military service members, veterans and their families during a Holiday Mail for Heroes event on Veteran's Day outside the American Red Cross' headquarters in Washington, DC.
Grant’s encouraging words helped convey the importance of sending handwritten messages and cards, and how this allows one person to sit down in private to say thank you to our heroes. Outside before a captivated crowd, Grant performed several songs including the beautiful and heartfelt, “Better Than a Halleljuh” and ending with “God Bless America” before signing her own holiday cards.
Americans sign holiday cards as part of the Holiday Mail for Herose Veterans Day Kick Off event in Washington, DC
It was a privilege and honor to be a part of the Pitney Bowes team that joined the American Red Cross last week at the Holiday Mail for Heroes event. From the outpouring of support from the public on Veteran’s Day in Washington, DC, and additional card signing events around the U.S., everything indicates that we are well on our way to achieving the goal of receiving and distributing one million holiday cards to our heroes this holiday season.