Published: May 09, 2008 12:33 pm         

Military Appreciation Day today

Every day American soldiers make sacrifices to serve and protect this country. The Morehead Post Office has been collecting supplies since April 22 for those who have been deployed overseas.

“I am excited about it,” said Customer Service Supervisor Jenny Ferrell. “We have not done anything for Military Appreciation.”

May 9 - Military Appreciation Day - is set aside to honor all soldiers and their families for their sacrifice in order to secure the freedoms Americans enjoy. There will be several activities that will take place outside the Morehead Post Office that day at 10 a.m.

The American Legion and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) will be at the event to help honor troops. A member from both groups will make a presentation that morning. Also they will be working to prepare packages to be sent overseas.

The post office will be sponsoring a contest, which will feature the new Flat Rate Priority Box. Those bringing in already prepared boxes and those who have the heaviest weighed box will be mailed free that day.

The post office, located at 700 West First Street, will have information available from the USO (United Service Organizations) and AdoptaPlatoon for customers. The post office is providing the information so that customers would be more knowledgeable on how to send supplies to the troops.

Customers are welcome to come out and join in on the celebration. Those customers who cannot attend the event Friday can leave their donations at the post office.

People can send the following items: canned fruit, chicken, sardines and tuna (tuna pouches are best). Some snack foods include beef jerky, beef sticks, summer sausage, cheese spreads, small Velveeta cheese blocks, dry cereal, Chex Mix, chips and cookies. All items must be appropriately sealed and packaged. There is a list available at the post office for those who would like to send packages that day.

“It is our hope that this Military Appreciation Day will increase the mail support to all service members of all the branches of the United States military,” Ferrell said.

The items that cannot be sent are: pork products, alcohol, pornographic materials, and liquid hand sanitizer or aerosol cans. The temperatures are extremely hot, so chocolate is not mailed to the troops during the summer.

Visit the USPS (United States Postal Service) at www.usps.com for information on military mailings. Information on sizes of postal boxes can also be viewed on the web. Free shipping supplies can be ordered over the phone by calling 1-800-222-1811.