Think about our troops serving all over the world. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of them could receive beautiful Valentine messages from your family? It would mean so much to them, and it would make your family members feel good, too. You've probably thought about doing something nice for the soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen you see on television and read about in the newspapers, but perhaps you didn't know how to connect with them. That's what Connect with the Troops is all about. It's a program that connects for you and it's free.
You and your family can join in building "The World's Largest and Greatest, Scrapbook for the Troops." Your family's Valentine messages and drawings can become part of this scrapbook. As of January 2007, the scrapbook contained 20,000 pages, but the project directors hope to accumulate over 120,000 pages before completion. The pages with their heartfelt notes and drawings (and maybe your Valentines) will be archived by the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. This is a super project you'll definitely want to consider for your family. Even if you and the kids can't get the work done by Valentine's Day, the troops will appreciate your messages and drawings anytime.
To participate in Connect with the Troops, visit the site and check out the downloadable scrapbook templates. Your family can also create its own templates and other creative additions to the scrapbook as long as the work is on 8.5"*11" pages. Once the pages are ready for submission, you'll need to complete the form and permissions (found on the site) before sending the pages to:
Scrapbook/Connect And Join
PO Box 5170
Columbia, SC 29250
or
Scrapbook/Connect And Join
1735 St. Julian Place, Suite 301
Columbia, SC 29204
Connect with the Troops is also a terrific way to help your children learn about current events and what our troops are doing in other parts of the world. Through the project they'll develop empathy for those deployed by the military and their families as well. As they create their messages, they'll be practicing language arts, art, communications and critical and creative thinking skills - and their work will provide inspiration for those who are serving our country.
Why not say, "Happy Valentine's Day" to the troops?
For Military Families
If your family is separated by military deployment, you'll want to take a look at Connect and Join, a part of Connect with the Troops site. It provides a Web-based way for your family members to keep in touch. Those who join, have instant access to a personal family homepage, templates for postings on the site, a calendar that's more like a journal, a photo gallery, arts and crafts ideas for snail mail, ideas for teen projects, archival tools, and tech help from Connect and Join's wizard Merlin. Coming soon will be Connect and Join's eRadio, which will allow family members anywhere to send audio messages to each other.
For less than $120 a year, Connect and Join provides military families with an easy-to-use online format for keeping in touch. If your family is separated because of military deployment all of your family members will truly appreciate the on-going and private connections made possible through Connect and Join. The site overflows with family pages filled with text, art work, and photo reminders that each family member is cherished.
Additional Information
Connect with the Troops
http://www.connectwiththetroops.com
Participation is free.
Connect and Join
http://www.connectandjoin.com
Pricing for up to 5 users: $9.95 a month; $119 for a year (actually 14 months, first two months are free)
Mailing Address:
PO Box 5170
Columbia, SC 29250
or
1735 St. Julian Place, Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29204
Telephone:888-729-9828
