Arlington: Thank A Medal Of Honor Recipient With Mail Call Program

Press release from the City of Arlington:

February 09, 2021

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is once again joining forces with singer Janine Stange to host the fifth 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 69 recipients are alive today. Through the program, Stange and the Foundation will collect letters from grateful Americans that will then be mailed directly to living recipients.

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.

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 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 25, 2021
• 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 opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington's Entertainment District. The Museum is scheduled to open in 2024.

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