UPDATE. Thanks to Carol at Celebrate Wine, I have learned that the address at Walter Reed is an urban legend. The idea was a good one - the reality is another thing.

This link tells the complete scoop on the origin and why sending a card/package to a generic addressee like "any wounded soldier" will not be delivered by the post office or accepted at the hospital.

However, the link to the e-post cards is still a good idea. Thanks again, Carol, for setting the record straight.

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End of the first week of December: have you sent out your holiday cards? All my Christmas cards to friends and family were sent last week as I have a new address and wanted to make sure people were aware before they made out their cards. This weekend I hope to complete those cards I will send to business acquaintances and customers. It is truly a labor of love.

And speaking of a labor of love, that makes me think of the wonderful men and women who faithful serve our country and daily protect our freedom by serving in the armed forces.

My cousin lost her son many years ago in a barracks bombing overseas and she recently sent me an address to which I can send a holiday greeting to a soldier who is recovering from injury. I would encourage you to add this address to your card list this year. And if you are among the growing population no longer sending cards; perhaps you'll consider making an exception in this case:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

Leslie Ungar of Electric Impulse offered up another address in her monthly newsletter. Let's Say Thanks is a website which enables you to send an electronic greeting to a man or woman in the armed forces.

Take a moment and say "thank you and happy holidays" to an American soldier.

Deborah Chaddock Brown