The Hallmark Channel is teaming up with the Department of Defense to launch an initiative called "cards for troops."
Based on a true story, a Hallmark Channel movie set to air this weekend called The Christmas Card is a love story about a soldier's quest to find a young woman who sent him a card. Henry Schleiff, president and CEO of Hallmark’s parent company Crown Media, said the storyline led to the project announced Monday to encourage men and women in uniform.
"It kind of led to an opportunity," he told Family News in Focus, "for Hallmark Channel to get involved with some terrific support organizations for our military.”
Hallmark is working in conjunction with America Supports You, a government initiative aimed at showing U.S. troops how important they are to America.
Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense at the Department of Defense, said the focus is encouragement.
"It’s not a political program, and it’s not a program where people talk about the policies of the war," she said. "America Supports You is about the people who fight our wars."
And it's more than just cards. People can send letters, packages, calling cards and even frequent flier miles. Barber said, aside from keeping their families safe, soldiers often tell her that keeping in touch is uppermost in their minds.
"We have to be vigilant about continuing to get that message out," she said, "that America supports you."
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit the America Supports You Web site.
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