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Backgrounder - The "Write to the Troops" Electronic Message Board
December 2, 2004
Each year, Canadians wishing to express support for Canadian Forces (CF) members send letters and parcels to troops deployed overseas. Some of these items are addressed to "any CF member." Sealed letters and parcels addressed to "any CF member" present a security risk and can overwhelm the CF postal service.
The "Write to the Troops" electronic message board provides Canadians with a simple, quick, and cost-effective way to send greetings to CF members. Since October 2001, more than 21,000 "Write to the Troops" messages have been posted, including those from well-known Canadians such as Prime Minister Paul Martin and astronaut Marc Garneau.
A "reply" capability has been added to the "Write to the Troops" message board. All "Write to the Troops" users can now post replies to specific messages.
Family members and friends of CF personnel can send letters and parcels overseas by following guidelines available at local CF Base Postal Sections, Military Family Resource Centres, or through the CF Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) at www.cfpsa.com .
Through a program called "Operation Santa Claus," the CFPSA gathers donations from corporations to send to deployed personnel. Groups and corporations wishing to make a contribution should visit the CFPSA website and click on the "Operation Santa Claus" link.
For further information:
Operation Santa Claus