HOO-ah: Send a holiday to an American service member, veteran or military family for free through the Red Cross

Holiday Mail for Heroes is a partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes to deliver one million holiday cards to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

You can also:

Download and print a free card

Learn about other ways to participate

Get the latest news about Holiday Mail for Heroes

Watch a video from Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet Members Dr. Phil and Nancy O'Dell

Please follow these simple guidelineswhen sending your card to ensure it will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards postmarked after this date will be returned to sender.

If sending more than one card, please mail all cards together in one large shipping envelope. Cards sent in this manner do not need individual envelopes or postage.

Please ensure that all cards are signed.

Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.”

Please do not include personal information, like email or home addresses.

Please do not send letters.

Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, glitter, confetti, gift cards or calling cards. Any items inserted into cards will be removed during the reviewing process.

All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

American Minute - May 21 - Clara Barton & The American Red Cross

American Minute
with Bill Federer

The American Red Cross was organized MAY 21, 1881, by Clara Barton, a schoolteacher who had moved to Washington at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Clara Barton distributed relief supplies to wounded soldiers and, at the request of President Lincoln, aided in searching for missing men.

Clara Barton helped in hospitals in Cuba during the Spanish-American War and in Europe during the Franco-German war, working with Henri Dunant, founder of the International Red Cross.

On May 18, 1918, at the opening of the Second Red Cross Drive in New York City, President Woodrow Wilson recognized those in this great service, stating:

"Being members of the American Red Cross...a great fraternity and fellowship which extends all over the world...this cross which these ladies bore here today is an emblem of Christianity itself..."

Woodrow Wilson continued:

"When you think of this, you realize how the people of the United States are being drawn together into a great intimate family whose heart is being used for the service of the soldiers not only, but for the long night of suffering and terror, in order that they and men everywhere may see the dawn of a day of righteousness and justice and peace."