A Simple, Personal Way to Thank Veterans

Today's guest post was written by Dave McLaughlin

In the spirit of eMail Our Military, Vthankyou is an effort to give Americans a simple way to support veterans and soldiers. Anyone with a webcam and an internet connection can post a short video message of gratitude and good will for veterans, up to sixty seconds long, by going to vsnap.com.

Video messages capture emotion and personality in a way that text usually doesn’t. Here are some examples that give a sense of how these messages are so simple, but so moving. They also illustrate the variety of voices and messages that people are posting.

Please join this campaign and add your own video message to thank our veterans. Just go to Vsnap.com. If you have a Twitter account, you can sign in with those credentials. If not, you can enter your email and make up a password. The service is free, and Vthankyou has lined up corporate donors who will make a $5 donation to The Wounded Warrior Project for each video message that gets posted.

You can even attach other documents to the video message. You might want to add a photo of a family member who has served, or a link to a song that reminds you of someone now deployed. Anything you like.

When you share your message, please send it to vthankyou@vsnap.com, and please cc a few friends that you think will want to add their voices to this campaign. We believe very strongly that the vast majority of Americans share a deep respect and gratitude for the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families, and Vthankyou is our attempt at giving those folks a simple way to share that gratitude with veterans and with the world.

If you have any questions, please find us on Twitter @Vthankyou or @Vsnap. Thanks for saying Vthankyou!

Here is my ThankYou Message to veterans.

Record yours here. Takes 2 minutes. Each one sends $5 to charity!

Tweet us at: @MailOurMilitary and follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs

[ Tags: eMOM, eMail Our Military, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, eMail The Military, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, Miami MilBlogger, South Florida Troop Support Organization, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, vsnap, vthankyou, giving back, video messages ]

Holiday Care Packages to the Troops

This year as a special part of our Holiday Love Project, our partners at Beyond Bookmarks have created a special coupon code so you can send care packages, "Patriot Packs," to military services members at home and deployed this holiday season and get a 10% discount.

Whether you have a loved one serving or not, we've made it possible for you to send care packages to our troops with our Unknown Soldier Service. eMail Our Military has a confidential database of service members serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan (and across the globe) who could use a little love and some goodies from home. You even get to include a special message to the service member who'll receive your package!

Every care package you order gives back to the troops! You get a great discount, your service members get great packages and a portion of the proceeds come back to eMail Our Military so we can continue to support our troops. What could be better than that?

Just order the package you want to send use COUPON CODE: EMOM and Beyond Bookmarks and eMOM will take care of the rest.

Here's how:

Order your Patriot Pack by calling Beyond Bookmarks toll free at 1-866-746-5133. They're happy to take your order over the phone Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST. (Don't forget to use COUPON CODE: EMOM to get your 10% discount)

OR if you prefer to do it yourself online:

1. Add the Patriot Pack you'd like to send to your shopping cart and select soldier service from the drop down menu.

2. Add any add on items you'd like to include to your shopping cart.

3. Click checkout and add your gift tag message using the button to the right of your Patriot Pack that reads add gift tag message. (Don't forget to use COUPON CODE: EMOM to get your 10% discount)

4. Continue checkout as normal, but enter your address as the shipping address. Beyond will change this to the APO/FPO address of a soldier provided by eMail Our Military.

5. Choose USPS as your shipping carrier then select Priority Mail as your shipping method

If you get stuck of need a little help along the way just give the good folks at Beyond Bookmarks a call toll free at: 1-866-746-5133

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily you've found it!

Tweet us at: @MailOurMilitary and follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs

[ Tags: eMOM, eMail Our Military, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, eMail The Military, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, Miami MilBlogger, South Florida Troop Support Organization, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail ]

Connect with us across social networks:

Update - 8th Annual Holiday Love Campaign

UPDATE 2: We're almost there!

We're 57% of the way there with just $220 left to go. Big thanks to the following Postage Patriots:

$300 Total - Thanks To:

Kimberly D.
Kimberly J.
Phyllis M.
Wendy R.
Kim H.
Michael T.


$980 Total - Thanks To:

Deborah M.
Joe P.
Beth C.
Craig O.
Karen E.
Michael D.
Denny G.
Rich T.
Desiree K.
Carol M.
Amie S.
Latichia B.
Celeste R.
Linda D.
Bonnie R.
James H.
Amy Michelle B.
Terry A.
Kathy D.
Robert S.
Tara D.
Richard M.
Michelle L.
Pomela M.
Leslie U.
Todd J.
Gloria B.
Todd B.
diane b.
James S.
Dana s.
Robert L.
Emily N.
James H.
Charles S.
Mary j m.
Loraine H.
Mary R.
Renee J.
Barbara B.
Corinne F
Susan K.

UPDATE 1:

Oh no! ChipIn ended our project before it was officially over tonight so we've had to create a new one to pick up where it left off.

With just $520 left to go, we know we can meet our goal by 11:59 est New Year's Eve and you can still help.

We've got just 7 hours left to get it done!


Every $5 received ships 1LB of HOLIDAY mail to our troops overseas. Every $30 received is a care package filled with treats to our troops overseas.

Ready? Set? ChipIn!

8th Annual Holiday Love Campaign

This holiday season you can make the holidays a little brighter for our troops overseas and stationed far from home. Consider becoming a Postage Patriot or a Care Package Patriot.

Each year we send holiday cards to our troops for Christmas and Hanukkah. This year our project has changed to make it easier for people to participate online using Chip-In.

Postage Patriots

For every $5 or $10 payment we receive, we will ship one of our Holiday Love care packages stuffed with morale boosting holiday mail to our troops. Imagine the excitement our service members will feel as they receive packages of holiday mail sponsored by you. To participate use the widget on the sidebar to sponsor a package of holiday mail today! ($5 dollars ships 1 lb of mail)

Care Package Patriots

For every $30 payment we receive, we will ship one Holiday Love care package stuffed with goodies, snacks and treats to our troops. Imagine the excitement our service members will feel as they receive care packages sponsored by you. To participate use the widget to sponsor a package of holiday mail today! (see our military care packages here)

Though the holiday deadlines have passed for these items to reach our troops in time for Christmas we're going to keep shipping and keep spreading the holiday spirit!

Please don't let this year be the 1st year that eMail Our Military does not come through for our troops. They count on us and we count on you. We know we couldn't do it without your support.

We thank you!

Holiday Love Photos

See photos from previous project and campaigns on the eMOM Flickr Page

Connect With Us

Website: http://www.eMailOurMilitary.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MailOurMilitary
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eMailOurMilitary
Holiday Love Chip-In: http://emailourmilitary2008.chipin.com/holiday-mail-for-troops

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, you've found it! Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to eMail/Mail our military one-on-one.

Tweet us at: @MailOurMilitary and follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs

[ Tags: eMOM, eMail Our Military, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, eMail The Military, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, Miami MilBlogger, South Florida Troop Support Organization, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail ]

Connect with us across social networks:

Update - 8th Annual Holiday Love Campaign

UPDATE:

Oh no! ChipIn ended our project before it was officially over tonight so we've had to create a new one to pick up where it left off.

With just $520 left to go, we know we can meet our goal by 11:59 est New Year's Eve and you can still help.

We've got just 7 hours left to get it done!


Every $5 received ships 1LB of HOLIDAY mail to our troops overseas. Every $30 received is a care package filled with treats to our troops overseas.

Ready? Set? ChipIn!

8th Annual Holiday Love Campaign

This holiday season you can make the holidays a little brighter for our troops overseas and stationed far from home. Consider becoming a Postage Patriot or a Care Package Patriot.

Each year we send holiday cards to our troops for Christmas and Hanukkah. This year our project has changed to make it easier for people to participate online using Chip-In.

Postage Patriots

For every $5 or $10 payment we receive, we will ship one of our Holiday Love care packages stuffed with morale boosting holiday mail to our troops. Imagine the excitement our service members will feel as they receive packages of holiday mail sponsored by you. To participate use the widget on the sidebar to sponsor a package of holiday mail today! ($5 dollars ships 1 lb of mail)

Care Package Patriots

For every $30 payment we receive, we will ship one Holiday Love care package stuffed with goodies, snacks and treats to our troops. Imagine the excitement our service members will feel as they receive care packages sponsored by you. To participate use the widget to sponsor a package of holiday mail today! (see our military care packages here)

Though the holiday deadlines have passed for these items to reach our troops in time for Christmas we're going to keep shipping and keep spreading the holiday spirit!

Please don't let this year be the 1st year that eMail Our Military does not come through for our troops. They count on us and we count on you. We know we couldn't do it without your support.

We thank you!

Holiday Love Photos

See photos from previous project and campaigns on the eMOM Flickr Page

Connect With Us

Website: http://www.eMailOurMilitary.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MailOurMilitary
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eMailOurMilitary
Holiday Love Chip-In:

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, you've found it! Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to eMail/Mail our military one-on-one.

Tweet us at: @MailOurMilitary and follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs

[ Tags: eMOM, eMail Our Military, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, eMail The Military, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, Miami MilBlogger, South Florida Troop Support Organization, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail ]

Connect with us across social networks:

Holiday Care Packages for our Troops

This year as a special part of our Holiday Love Project, our partners at Beyond Bookmarks have created a special coupon code so you can send care packages, "Patriot Packs," to military services members at home and deployed this holiday season and get a 10% discount.

Whether you have a loved one serving or not, we've made it possible for you to send care packages to our troops with our Unknown Soldier Service. eMail Our Military has a confidential database of service members serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan who could use a little love and some goodies from home.

Every care package you order gives back to the troops! You get a great discount, your service members get great packages and a portion of the proceeds come back to eMail Our Military so we can continue to support our troops. What could be better than that?

Just order the package you want to send use COUPON CODE: EMOM and Beyond Bookmarks and eMOM will take care of the rest.

Here's how:

Order your Patriot Pack by calling Beyond Bookmarks toll free at 1-866-746-5133. They're happy to take your order over the phone Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST. (Don't forget to use COUPON CODE: EMOM to get your 10% discount)

OR if you prefer to do it yourself online:

1. Add the Patriot Pack you'd like to send to your shopping cart and select soldier service from the drop down menu.

2. Add any add on items you'd like to include to your shopping cart.

3. Click checkout and add your gift tag message using the button to the right of your Patriot Pack that reads add gift tag message. (Don't forget to use COUPON CODE: EMOM to get your 10% discount)

4. Continue checkout as normal, but enter your address as the shipping address. Beyond will change this to the APO/FPO address of a soldier provided by eMail Our Military.

5. Choose USPS as your shipping carrier then select Priority Mail as your shipping method

If you get stuck of need a little help along the way just give the good folks at Beyond Bookmarks a call toll free at: 1-866-746-5133

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, you've found it! Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to eMail/Mail our military one-on-one.

Tweet us at: @MailOurMilitary and follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs

[ Tags: eMOM, eMail Our Military, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, eMail The Military, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, Miami MilBlogger, South Florida Troop Support Organization, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, Beyond Bookmarks, Patriot Packs, Military Care Packages ]

Connect with us across social networks:

Join the Team, Make a Difference

Would you like to be Community Relations Leader for eMail Our Military in your community, city, or on base, etc?

We’re looking for dedicated eMail Our Military (eMOM) members to help us spread support for our troops in communities across the country. It fun, easy and free to do!

As a part of Team eMOM™ you can help us manage our online communities, spread the word and help us support our troops from sea to shining sea. You'll also be able to connect with troop supporters just like you, military spouses, Team eMOM™ Community Relations Leaders and our eMOM officers. Here is a little information about Team eMOM™ and some of what you can expect as a part of the team:

• Be an eMail Our Military Member
• Join us across our social networks to connect with locals in your area
• Promote eMail Our Military locally, on base and within your online community
• Participate in our projects regularly. (These are basic projects like emailing, etc.)
• Create your own Team eMOM Local Blog
• Create and use your auto-signature in all emails, letters and web posts.
• Have fun!

As a Team eMOM Leader for your area you'd have benefits too:

• You'll be an important part of creating ideas for our new campaigns
• You'll receive all the promotional materials before other members
• You’ll get eMOM behind the scenes access
• You'll get a cool title as a part of our eMOM Across America's Team eMOM™

If you think you may be interested in being a part of the eMOM team, please leave a comment here and contact us via our webform at: http://www.emailourmilitary.com/contact.htm

If you're on twitter, send us a shout out at @MailOurMilitary too. We're looking forward to reaching more of our troops this year and showing them outstanding support!

# # #

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, you've found it! Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to eMail/Mail our military one-on-one.

Connect with eMail Our Military (eMOM) on twitter at: @MailOurMilitary, follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs or connect with us through one of the services below.

If you're reading this via email or in your feed reader, stop by and add your comments.

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, Patriotism, Miami MilBlogging, South Florida Troop Support Organization, South Florida Military Support Organization, South Florida Blogger, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, eMOM Across America, Team EMOM, Military Spouses, Military Communities, Veterans ]