Arlington: Join The National Medal Of Honor Museum Foundation's "Mail Call"

Press release from the City of Arlington:

April 24, 2020

Editor's Note: The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation has extended the deadline for its Mail Call program. Please have letters mailed by May 31, 2020.

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is joining forces with singer Janine Stange to host the fourth annual Medal of Honor Mail Call, inviting Americans to learn about the heroics of our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients and send them personalized letters thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

Medal of Honor Mail Call harkens back to the days before email, FaceTime and texting, when hearing a sergeant yell “Mail Call” meant soldiers were about to receive a letter from home. Back then, Mail Calls were one of the only opportunities for soldiers on the battlefield to hear from their loved ones, giving them a moment of joy in an otherwise tumultuous time.

Stange launched the effort in 2017 as a way for students, businesses, groups and individuals to learn about – and personally thank – our nation’s heroes. Since the medal’s inception in 1863, roughly 3,500 brave Americans have received the nation’s highest award for valor in combat. Of those, only 71 recipients are alive today. Through the program, Stange and the Foundation will collect letters, postcards, drawings, and paintings from grateful Americans all across the country that will be mailed directly to those 71 living recipients.

“In this day and age when many Americans do not know a single active duty or retired service member, the Medal of Honor Mail Call provides a simple way for everyday Americans to learn from and connect with those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Stange, a motivational speaker and singer who was the first person to perform the National Anthem in all 50 states.

The first Medal of Honor was awarded to Jacob Parrott on March 25, 1863. In 1990, Congress passed a resolution establishing March 25 as National Medal of Honor Day, a nationwide holiday honoring the Medal and its recipients.

Over the life of Medal of Honor Mail Call, thousands of thoughtful pieces have been collected, bundled, packaged and sent to Medal of Honor recipients. In 2019, more than 12,000 letters were collected over just three weeks from individuals who responded to the call – including one from a young student who wrote: “I know you say you don’t consider yourself a hero, but you found yourself in a situation where you had a choice to act selfishly or selflessly, and you chose the latter. I want you to know that I want to be the same way.”

How to participate:

• Select the Medal of Honor recipient(s) you'd like to write to. You can visit the National Medal of Honor Recipient Database to learn more about the 71 living recipients. (Be sure to check the box for Living Recipients.)
• Get creative! You're welcome to send letters, draw pictures or whatever best expresses your appreciation. Be sure to include your return address on the envelope. You may get a response from the recipient.
• Mail your letters to:
  • National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation
    ATTN: (recipient's name)
    1905 East Randol Mill Road
    Arlington, TX 76011
• The deadline to send your letters is March 18, 2020
• Click here to learn more about the process, including tips for your letter. You'll also find information on how to participate as a group.

This year’s Medal of Honor Mail Call comes as the Foundation continues building momentum towards the 2024 grand opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington's Entertainment District. Last month, Foundation leaders announced major expansions of their national and North Texas operations, as well as selection of the chief architect for the project.

“The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is excited to partner with Janine on this memorable project. In addition to honoring the most heroic among us, one of the main goals of the museum is to reinforce the patriotic bonds that bring us together. The Medal of Honor Mail Call is a tangible way to bring civilians and service members together to celebrate the values that unite us,” said Joe Daniels, President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

In conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day, the Foundation will host a “community stuffing event” in Arlington, welcoming volunteers to help sort and package the letters for delivery to Medal of Honor recipients. More details on this event will be available in the near future. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Amber Zuckerman at 214-929-8105 or email azuckerman@mohmuseum.org.

• National Medal of Honor Museum
• Support Youth and Families

This press release was produced by the City of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.