Act of Kindness – Week #8!!

“Real heroes do not wear capes or their name on the back of their jersey…they wear dog tags and their country’s flag on the arm of their uniform.”

*The act of kindness this week…show kindness by sending a “thank you” in the mail to someone currently serving and protecting our country in the armed forces!!

     As I was thinking last week about what intentional act of kindness I wanted to do this past weekend, it did not take long to realize that July 4th was that coming Friday! The Wikipedia definition of the “Fourth of July” is as follows:

“Independence Day, also commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States of America commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain (now part of the United Kingdom). Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.”

     When reading the above definition, the first thing I noticed was that my family and I celebrate the 4th of July with several of the ways that were first listed…fireworks, barbecue and a family reunion! I am also very thankful that before we eat lunch at my Aunt and Uncle’s on the 4th, we pray for and thank God for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country because freedom is not free! However,  I decided this year (thinking about an intentional act of kindness centered around the Fourth of July prompted this) that getting together with family and having a barbecue etc. is celebrating the Fourth of July and our freedom, but I wanted to take it all a step further and from now on call July 4th “Independence Day” instead. To me, there is so much more meaning when we realize we are celebrating “Independence Day” and not just the “Fourth of July”! In making this mental change this past weekend, the deeper recognition of the holiday made me want to not just pray for our armed forces but to also physically show kindness to the current men and women who are serving and protecting the United States of America! I pray that this is now an annual Independence Day activity on my part…so let me explain how I did it and encourage you to do the same!!

*My experience with the act of kindness…I heard about “Operation Write Home” from a lady at my church, Mary, who makes beautiful homemade cards and who also got me started in making homemade cards a couple years ago! Operation Write Home’s mission is, “Supporting our nation’s armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as “AnyHero” cards of gratitude to encourage them.”

     Due to time, I chose to start with the AnyHero mail! (I do plan to later make the blank homemade cards for the armed forces to receive, write in and send home. Expect a blog on this later in the year!) Each of the boxes that the armed forces receive from Operation Write Home is full of blank homemade cards and also a bag of AnyHero mail. AnyHero mail can be cards, letters, drawings/coloring pages from kids etc. AnyHero mail contains messages of gratitude and encouragement for the men and women serving! It is also called AnyHero mail because it is given out to those who get little or no mail. 

     I spent a couple hours one evening making some cards and writing an encouraging message on them as you can see by the pictures! The website said, “Inexperienced crafters should consider making AnyHero cards at first, writing a note inside the card to a hero. It takes the pressure off to make something fancy, while learning the ropes of card making! As experience takes over, you’ll be ready to roll!” This means that you all can join in this intentional act of kindness and show love and support to our armed forces! It could be homemade or bought with a hand written message from you! We will never know the extent of what this act of kindness will bring to the men and women serving and protecting the United State of America!!

Guidelines from Operation Write Home on AnyHero mail (http://operationwritehome.org/):

     1) Mail can be short or long (Examples: 2-3 page handwritten letter, a hand written note in a store bought note card, kids can draw elaborate pictures or color pictures etc).

    2) Start your AnyHero mail out with “Dear hero”, “To an American hero” or “Hello” etc. The term hero is used so that the letter can apply to any branch of the armed services. 

    3) Examples of what to write in letter: “Anything. Thank them. Tell them the freedoms you’re grateful for. Share your life with them if you wish – describe your family, community, hobbies. They love to hear that life is going on well here at home – so send them a news clipping about a happy story in your hometown, or a cartoon that will make them smile. Tell them your pet’s latest antic.” 

    4) Examples of what to not include in the letter: “Politics, negative news, anger about the war or society. Our heroes need positive encouragement.”

    5) No envelope is needed. The AnyHero mail is reviewed and then placed in a Ziploc bag on top of the blank homemade cards. 

    6) Please also enclose a completed Packing Slip when sending the AnyHero mail so that you can be notified when it safely arrives. You can download a packing slip on the website listed above.

    7) Mail the letters/cards/coloring pages etc to: Operation Write Home, 35205 13th Pl SW, Federal Way WA 98023. 

“Are these letters important? You bet! Listen to one airman:“It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to read a note of thanks and appreciation from people that don’t even know us. A few of us teared up a bit and all we can do is just pass on our sincerest thanks for the cards and letters. It lifted our spirits today and will help carry us through our journey here in Afghanistan.” T. N. C., MSgt, USAF”

p.s. Please comment below with your own experience with this act of kindness! I would really enjoy hearing about it!!