Be A Hero...To A Hero: Support Our Troops:

Be A Hero...To A Hero
Support Our Troops

Back to Military and DoD Special Education

A Message from Pete and Pam Wright

Like many of you, we are frustrated by the wars. Like many of you, we said "We support the troops."

We asked ourselves, "What have we done to support the troops? What actions have we taken?'"

The painful answer: "Not much."

As a result, we spent a great deal of time on the Internet. We wanted to learn all we could about how ordinary people - like us and you - can support the servicemen and women who are serving in these countries far from home. Continue to read this message from Pete and Pam Wright.

Why Should We Help?

"It means the world to us knowing that while we are on the front, America has our back. Thank you for all the support you have given. Your letters mean the world to us."

Thousands of US soldiers say they are grateful for letters and packages they receive from family and friends. But it is the support from strangers that they find astounding.

We hope you will take a few minutes to support these men and women who are serving in dangerous lands, far from home.

As Pete and Pam Wright pack orders for Wrightslaw products, they include Cell Phones for Soldiers recycling envelopes in every package.

When you order from Wrightslaw, you will receive a small plastic envelope. Just slide in your unused cell phones into the envelope, seal, and drop it in the mail.

It's easy. It's free - no postage required. Program flyer

Helping Heroes Home - the newest initiative of Cell Phones for Soldiers. Helping Heroes Home provides emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.

Donna Anders and Pete and Pam Wright with Commandant of USMC General and Mrs. James F. Amos at his Passage of Command ceremony Pete and Pam Wright with Commandant of USMC General and Mrs. James F. Amos at his Passage of Command ceremony at the Marine Barracks, Washington DC (Oct 22, 2010). Pete works extensively with military families and Generals Amos and Conway spoke to Pete about it after the ceremony. Both General Conway and General Amos mentioned "families with special needs children" in their speeches. The Marines are fortunate in this regard.

How We Can Help*

Check these websites to learn how you can help.

Thank you letter from Operation Gratitude to The Wrightslaw Team The Wrightslaw Team supports Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude - This all-volunteer organization sends care packages to individual service members deployed overseas, they want to lift troops' morale and put smiles on their faces - a great way to say "thank you."

Watch "The Definition of Gratitude"

Request a package

Holiday Mail for Heroes sponsored by the American Red Cross with help from Pitney Bowes.

Guard Family Program. You will find a contact name and number for the Family Assistance Center or Family Readiness Group in your area - Click your state. Staff at these centers love to have offers of assistance for deployed soldiers and their families.

Child with a Hero sign Adopt A Platoon - Some troops in the field "have nothing." You won't find a better way to support a small group than by Adopting a platoon.

Any Soldier - Want to support a soldier who is in harm's way, but have no idea about what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it? Here's how.

Boatsie's Boxes - A wonderful family operation that sends boxes to hospitals, groups of young troops who are deployed for the first time, and reaching the Forward Lines of operation all over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cell Phones For Soldiers -The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was launched in April 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, MA. Re-cycled cell phones provide millions of minutes on prepaid calling cards for our troops serving overseas. Brittany and Robbie plan to raise more than $9 million in 2008.

Soldiers' Angels - Soldiers' Angels supports tens of thousands of American Service Members stationed around the world. The numbers grow daily. Soldiers' Angels are dedicated to supporting service members during and after their deployments.

The Hugs Project -The Hugs Project, started June, 2004 in Oklahoma by Ray and Karen Stark, is a non profit 501 C 3 organization that makes cool ties (affectionately nicknamed "hugs" since they go around the neck) to help keep our troops and allies cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

USPS Military Care Kit - Free kit for mailing

How Teachers Can Help

Have your class adopt a servicemember or a unit as pen pals. Use this project as an English lesson, letter writing skills practice, geography facts, art project, etc.

A soldier wrote, "I have a pen pal. She's in 2nd grade. In fact, her entire 2nd grade class is writing our legal team here. Their teacher is the sister-in-law of one of my colleagues. When we all received our first letters 2 weeks ago, just before Halloween, there was so much excitement. It's amazing how one letter from a child in Arizona can have such a positive effect."

Operation Kids 4 Troops started in the classroom of TSGT Spencer C. Cluff, a high school teacher (Human Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology) in Oklahoma City and an Air Force Reservist with the 507th Medical Squadron at Tinker AFB.

Encourage families to participate in the United Through Reading® Military Program that helps ease the stress of separation for military families by having deployed parents read children’s books aloud via DVD for their child to watch at home. Find out how it works. Watch the video.

Many schoolchildren have had their lives deeply touched during this time of war. For DOD Support to Civilian Schools Educating Military Children and Resources, please go to the Military and DoD Special Education page.

Kids Can Take Action Too!

You receive help from many people every day — bus drivers, teachers, cafeteria workers — and they appreciate it when you say "thank you" for their help.

But there is one group of people you may not even think about thanking — the men and women in the military who serve all over the world.

Tips for Writing a "Thank You" Letter to a Soldier. You'll find a sample of a thank you letter you can write to a soldier.

Thank You to Our Troops

The Wrightslaw Team says a special "thank you" for your wonderful letters of thanks and support for our troops. See all the art on the Wrightslaw Hero Art page.

Thanksgiving / Christmas 2022

Special thanks to Maison in OR for writing three letters!

Thanksgiving / Christmas 2019

Special thanks to Kayley in RI. Your thank you cards for our troops are on the way!

Robert J. West Middle School
Ms. Smith's Students

Many thanks to Ms. Smith's students who were "Reaching out to others" by saying thank you.

The Wrightlsaw Team appreciates your contribution to supporting our troops over the Christmas holiday.

Special thanks to Destiny and Dylan, from TN.

Your thank you letters to our troops are already on the way!

Clyde Boyd Middle School
Ms. Flood's Class

Thank you again for another project from Ms. Flood's classes for all your letters to our troops. Your letters are on the way to our soldiers in time for the Holidays. Great job!

Spring 2019

May 2019 - Patience Wright Chapter NSDAR

A second year for this wonderful project by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Patience Wright Chapter. Students participated in a study of the colonial period of history - while bringing awareness of the deeds and sacrifices of our soldiers serving at home and abroad, wrote letters to our soldiers. Martha Washington (aka Joan Bogaty) assisted students using period materials like quill pens to complete the project. These letters were sent to our partners at Operation Gratitude and to soldiers deployed at the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).

Hailey in VT - Update! Thank you again Hailey for this 2022 letter!

Well done Hailey in VT! Many thanks for taking the time to say "thank you" to our soldiers. Your letter is on the way to troops at Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).

thank you letter to soldiers

Christmas 2018

Tantasqua Regional Junior High School
Fiskdale, MA

The Wrightslaw Team says many thanks to Ms. Perrin's 8th graders at Tantasqua Regional Junior High School for all your letters.

Veteran's Day 2018

Wayne Early / Middle College High School
10th Graders

Wayne Early / Middle College High School Thank you notes

Clyde Boyd Middle School
Ms. Flood's 6th, 7th, 8th Graders

The Wrightslaw Team says a special "thank you" to Ms.Flood's 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Clyde Boyd Middle School. Your Veterans Day Assembly letter and art project was a wonderful way to thank and support our troops. The 200 letters and pictures you sent are already on their way to our troops around the world - just in time for the Christmas holidays. See all art from Clyde Boyd Middle School.

4th of July 2018

A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution participated in a 5th grade class fair culminating in a study of the colonial period of history - while bringing awareness of the deeds and sacrifices of our soldiers serving at home and abroad. These letters, were written by the students attending that fair. Their letters were sent to our partners at Operation Gratitude and to soldiers deployed at the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). See all the art from the Fair.

Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas 2016

Andrews Middle School
Student Council

The Wrightslaw Team extends a huge thanks to the Andrews Middle School Student Council and their sponsor Ms. Lindsey. For their 2016 Veteran's Day project, they submitted 625, yes! 625, letters and pictures in support of our troops. Their wonderful work is already on the way to service members in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Great job!

Veteran's Day, Christmas - 2015

The Cook Family and
Cub Scout Pack 1417

Thanks to these Cub Scouts, we were able to send over 60 cards and letters to the troops.

Third Graders
Ms. Norrid

See all 2015 art from Ms. Norrid's Third Graders

Third Graders
Ms. Butler

See all 2015 art from Ms. Butler's Third Graders

Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas - 2014

Wolf Pack 1417

Third Graders
Mrs. Howard's Class

See all 2014 art from Mrs. Howard's Third Graders

Third Graders
Ms. Norrid and Mrs. Butler

See all 2014 art.

Christmas - December 2013

art from Ida Price Middle School, San Jose, CA Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Graders
letters from Ida Price Middle School San Jose, CA

Thank you Middle Schoolers for always remembering our troops during the holidays!

Hundreds of letters to American soldiers arrived filled with art, oragami, friendship bracelets, pictures, artwork, photographs, awards, and poems and wonderful stories about the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders - who they are and what they like to do. .

See more art.

Thank to an American Soldier, Strath Haven Middle School

Just in time for Christmas packages for soldiers, thank you letters from middle schoolers arrive.

Middle Schoolers

Second, Third, Fourth Grade Students

See all the art

Thanksgiving - November 2013

Thank you to American Soldiers Ms. Norrid's Third Grade Class comes through again!

Ms. Norrid's Third Grade Class 2013

See all the art from Ms. Norrid's 2013 Class

Christmas - December 2012

Letters to American soldiers from Ida Price Middle School

Thank you Middle Schoolers for always remembering our troops during the holidays!

Seventh Graders
Ms. Stein's Core Class

Woodmont Charter School Third Graders Letters to American Soldiers Great job!

Super letters from Ms. Gaston's Third Graders.

Third Graders
Ms. Gaston's Class

Thank you to American Soldiers Third Graders say Thanks!

Ms. Norrid's Third Grade Class 2012

More art from Ms. Norrid's Class

February 2012

The first letters of the new year arrived this week. Many thanks to:

The Koman's and students from Swofford Career Center, Boiling Springs High School, Chesnee High School, & Chapman High School .

Christmas 2011 - This holiday season we have received over 500 letters from students to American soldiers. Thank You!

Seventh graders letter to an American Soldier Seventh Grader letter to an Amerian Soldier

Seventh Graders
Ms. St. John's Class

More art from Ms. St. John's Class

Thank you letter to an American Soldier Business Education Students
Ms. Down's Class

More art from Ms. Down's Class

Ms. Held's Classes
Period 7, 8

Thanksgiving 2011

Thank you letters from Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Graders

Great job from the classes of Ms. Beckley, Ms. Dodge, Ms. Stein, Mr. Kirwan, Ms. Chieng

Veteran's Day - November 2011
Thank you letters from Middle Schoolers

Thank you cards from New Hope-Solebury Eighth Graders Eight Graders' Thank You Cards

Click here to see thank you cards

Megan in Knoxville

Mandie in Spokane Valley

July 2011 - Happy 4th of July

Thank you letters from
Ayden & Sara

Our Troops Respond

B Co 296 BSB 3-2 SBCT
Kandahar AF, Afghanistan

Ayden, Thank you so much for your letter.

I loved receiving it!

March 2011

Ms. Kohler's Tenth Grade Class

Letters to American Soldiers from Fairview Christian Academy

Ms. Young's Sixth Grade Class

Happy Valentines Day - February 2011

Ms. Stinchcomb's 1st Grade Class

Click here to see all art

2010 - Thanksgiving and Christmas

thank you art to soldiers Your letters, received just in time for the holidays, were sent to soldiers in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan.