Operation Dear Abby

[Guest guest]

For those folks who have been discussing the " Operation Dear Abby " mailing

of cards to military service personnel, here are Abby's instructions:

In order to ensure that the mail is received within

the required time frame -- and that it falls within

the Department of Defense security guidelines --

this year mail is being limited to ONLY first-class

letters and cards, 13 ounces or less. No packages

will be accepted.

Operation Dear Abby has been assigned four addresses

for use during the 2000 holiday season. Specific units

and countries are not being targeted -- only major

U.S. military aerial mail terminals and fleet

mail centers overseas. Once the mail is received,

these hubs will distribute it on a fair-share basis

to all branches of the armed forces. This means a

letter addressed to a " soldier " may be distributed

to an airman, sailor or Marine, allowing for wider

distribution. This will also prevent the transportation

system or specific units from being inundated.

To send mail to a specific area, address it to the

closest geographic hub:

FOR EUROPE AND SOUTHWEST ASIA:

Any Service Member

OPERATION DEAR ABBY

APO AE 09135

FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN:

Any Service Member

OPERATION DEAR ABBY

FPO AE 09646

FOR THE FAR EAST:

Any Service Member

OPERATION DEAR ABBY

APO AP 96285

FOR THE PACIFIC BASIN:

Any Service Member

OPERATION DEAR ABBY

FPO AP 96385

The U.S. Postal Service will begin accepting this

mail on Nov. 15, 2000. After Jan. 15, 2001, mail will

no longer be accepted for these addresses.

Readers, because Operation Dear Abby ZIP codes are

temporary, they are not always entered into postal

computers, and clerks may not be aware that they are

valid. If you encounter difficulty at your local post

office, ask the clerk to check postal bulletins 22035

(Oct. 19, 2000) and/or 22036 (Nov. 2, 2000).

** ** **

<end of instructions>

Happy to be here, proud to serve.

Olmstead

Communications Supervisor

~on the Central California coastline~

" Not presumed to be an official statement of my employing agency. "

Home E-mail: mailto:gryeyes@...

http://www.gryeyes.com/