Soldiersangels.org helps people connect with soldiers who don't have family to send them mail or don't receive mail for whatever reason. These are soldiers who are continually disappointed at mail call and soldiers' angels send them mail and packages to keep their spirits up. Do you think the post office should offer a special soldiers angel stamp, discounted rates for packages, or do you have another idea?
2007-03-27 14:35:25 · 16 answers · asked by DonnaJ 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
As a member of Soldiers Angels it would be nice to get a small price break. I usually send out an average of 8 packages a month to various soldiers/units. I use the flat rate priority box that currently cost $8.10 and which will increase to around $9.00. Almost everything I send is purchased by me, except for the magazines that are donated by others.
But, the price increase will not deter me from sending. Our soldiers deserve our respect and thanks. Some of these replies are disappointing but not surprising. Most people do not realize (nor do they want to) just how much the military continues to guarantee the very freedoms on which they spout their rhetoric. If not for our very large and capable military, we would not have the freedoms we have. Undoubtedly, we would long ago have been invaded. So, continue to spout your ignorant remarks and I will continue proudly and loudly to support those that I know keep me and my family safe and free on US soil. I know you have heard it before, but if you despise our military and what it stands for, there are many other countries to call home. I will buy you a one way plane ticket.
2007-03-28 01:55:17 · answer #1 · answered by Lisa 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES! I think it's great that these people are willing to support our military troops when so many others are just too chicken. These soldiers are over there fighting for peace in Iraq while many American's take their freedom for granted. I suppose if it were up to them they would let our citizen's live in fear (Remember 911!?!?!) and not stand up and fight. Even though they would rather stand on street corners waving signs, these people still can have an opinion without fearing for their lives because they live in a free country that many other soldier's already fought and died for. Must be nice. I think those people that take the time to write to a soldier they don't even know and use their hard earned money to send them packages to let them know they are truly appreciated should receive some sort of break on the postage. That's the LEAST we could do. I'd even pay a little more for my own personal postage for that! Any discount on postage costs would allow them to support even more of those soldiers. Some of these people are supporting several soldiers including those that are healing from wounds they received during war. I will certainly write to my senators, govenors, the postal committee, the president and anyone else I possibly can!
2007-03-28 03:23:31 · answer #2 · answered by Eagle 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, a "Discount" is the reason the APO/FPO system was established ... to make an affordable way to support the troops overseas.
Instead of paying international postage to mail a package, you only pay domestic rates. Basically this means a considerable savings in shipping.
For example, a letter to Iraq (instead of an APO) is $.84 and a 1 pound package is $19.
A parcel post to an APO address for a 1 pound package is $3.95.
2007-03-30 18:27:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is just part of supporting the troops. It really doesnt bother me to pay the postage. I am an Army wife that has been through 2 deployments with my husband, and about to go into the 3rd. I just feel like it is the sacrifice that we make in order to send the packages. It wouldnt matter how much it cost to send, mail is important to my husband, so I keep sending it out.
2007-03-28 09:36:08 · answer #4 · answered by an88mikewife 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started a troop support group at my church getting the youth involved in adopted a few troops to send letters and care packages to over the course of their deployments through anysoldier.com (FANTASTIC website btw!). Apparently there has been some push in the US House to get some sort of legislation passed on this issue, but not much support through the congress has been coming so far. Read this http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.01439:
We send 6 packages a month in the Flat Rate boxes, but the cost adds up really fast! So I would totally be for a lower postage on this worthwhile cause...I think our troops serving overseas need all the support they can get from back home, and maybe having lower postage for care packages at least, would maybe influence more to send them. The best thing I could tell you is to write you congressmen to address your desire to have something done about it...maybe we need to get a petition started or something?
Also, sending care packages and letters to our men and women in uniform is a really fun thing and the patriotic feeling you get doing it really is incredible! It is for me anyway.
2007-03-28 05:01:16 · answer #5 · answered by northernillinoisboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They only pay regular postage for regular letters and cards, since the APO address has a NY state zip code.
As far as packages, the US Postal Sevice will provide anyone who is mailing items to military overseas with free packaging supplies (boxes, tape, mailing labels, etc). You just have to ask for a military shipping kit.
2007-03-27 22:01:15 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Briang, I wish they would have told my parent's that both times I was deployed because I saw how much it cost them to send me boxes and it wasn't discounted. The only people who don't have to pay is the soldiers sending letters home, if they wanted to send a box home the soldiers still had to pay the full amount
2007-03-27 21:44:31 · answer #7 · answered by Cowboy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should definately be a military stamp, for anyone who is mailing to military. There should also be a discount in place for the same. For those of you who do not mail to any person in military, you cannot know the expense of such. Therefore, should not comment. And to the person who wrote to us "war mongers". I was at Gathering of Eagles March, to you "Anti-war" people, you were the ones who were NOT PEACEFUL. I suggest to this person, if you love this country so much, why not represent it, in UNIFORM!! Oh wait, your to busy hiding behind a sign, trying to conform others to your narrow minded thinking.
2007-03-28 02:07:32 · answer #8 · answered by sweemotion 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, discounted stamps would be a great idea, if not free as the USPS is a Gov't agency sending support to another Gov't agency... (edited , looks like they do accept donations for shipping)
2007-03-30 17:56:58 · answer #9 · answered by midlayer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's domestic rate postage.. not all that expensive to begin with. toss in the flat rate Priority Mail boxes for $8.10 no matter the weight, and there isn't a real need for it.
if you offered it an organization, then you'd have to offer it to every friend, family member and loved one of somebody serving overseas as well.
2007-03-27 22:07:00 · answer #10 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋