Encourage kids to draw pictures of happy scenes from home, like playing in the park on a sunny day. Discourage drawings that depict fighting, like airplanes shooting at tanks. It’s okay to include artwork if you’re an adult as well! Alternatively, send a photo of a beautiful sunset or something similar (but not including you or anyone else in it).

In contrast, “Dear Sir or Madam,” is too formal, while “Dear Soldier,” is better but still a bit too generic.

It’s fine to simply write, “Thank you so much for your service. ” Or, try something like, “I am so thankful for you and all the other soldiers who are sacrificing to keep me safe and free. ” If you’re having trouble coming up with the right words for someone you know, consider writing about how proud you are, and how proud other loved ones (by name) are.

For instance, a child might write, “My name is Joe. I am in fourth grade. I like spelling class and recess, but not math. I have a little sister named Rose. ” An adult might write: “I’m Ellen. I’m a CPA in Omaha, and my father served in the Marines in Vietnam. " Don’t get too personal—provide the same generic information you might give to any stranger. This is particularly true for children writing letters.

For example, don’t write something like, “I’m sure it must be very difficult to have to take lives in order to protect our nation,” or, “I really wish our President hadn’t sent you halfway around the world for no good reason. ” Leave politics completely to the side, and limit your discussion of religion as well. It’s generally okay to write that you’re praying for their safety, though. If you know the person, you may be able to discuss touchy issues in broad terms and in ways that you know won’t cause distress.

Never assume that they’ll write you back, though. They may be in a situation that makes it impossible for them to do so, or they may simply feel uncomfortable doing so. Kids shouldn’t send their own contact information. They can, with permission, provide an address or email for a parent or their school, however. If you know the person, it’s never a bad idea to write down your mailing and email addresses. It’s possible they may have lost them.

Unless given permission to do so by a parent, teacher, or other responsible adult, children shouldn’t provide their last names. You can personalize the closing (with “Love,” or something similar) if you know the person.

U. S. -based groups include Operation Gratitude and A Million Thanks, among several others. Depending on where you live, the group should be either government-affiliated or a reputable charity—check out their ratings on sites like Charity Navigator. The U. S. Postal Service (and likely other postal services around the world) will not deliver individual letters addressed to “Any Soldier” (or similar). You must identify specific recipients if you’re sending letters on your own. [7] X Research source

Other common requirements include: no excessive discussions of politics or religion; no overly personal or specific identifying or contact information about children; and no glitter or confetti!

So, instead of writing, “It’s December 28, in the middle of my favorite time of year,” write something more general, like, “It’s wintertime, and I love it when the snow starts falling here. ” The average delivery time for letters sent to overseas U. S. military members is 1-2 weeks, but this can vary greatly based on numerous factors.

Operation Gratitude, for example, provides a U. S. mailing address where you’ll send your letters to be screened, processed, and shipped. They ask that you stack up all your letters together in a single envelope or box—don’t put them in individual envelopes or staple them together.

Even if the group doesn’t request donations, consider inquiring about making one anyway. The U. S. Postal Service delivers all military mail, no matter where it goes around the world, at the same rate as domestic mail. But this cost still adds up when you’re sending boxes full of letters![10] X Research source

You’ll end up saving money using the USPS anyway, since you can send a first class letter to a military base halfway around the world for the same price as a domestic letter. (The USPS charges domestic rates for military mail, regardless of destination. )

The envelope should be look just like any letter being addressed to someone in the U. S. Your return address should be at the top left, the postage at the top right, and the recipient address in the center. Write neatly on the envelope. The USPS prefers that you use all caps.

Line 1: JAMES WILSON (rank designation is unnecessary) Line 2 (Army): UNIT [number] BOX [number] Line 2 (Air Force): PSC [number] BOX [number] Line 3: APO AA [+ ZIP code] (use “AA” if they’re stationed in the Americas, “AE” if in Europe, and “AP” if in the Pacific) The Unit/PSC number, Box number, and ZIP code will vary based on the service member’s deployment. [14] X Research source

Line 1: JAMES WILSON (rank designation is unnecessary) Line 2 (on a base): UNIT [number] BOX [number] Line 2 (at sea): SHIP [number] HULL [number] Line 3: FPO AA [+ZIP code] (use “AA” if they’re stationed in the Americas, “AE” if in Europe, and “AP” if in the Pacific) Unit and Box (or Ship and Hull) numbers and ZIP codes vary based on the person’s deployment location and status. [16] X Research source