Only family and friends of soldiers assigned to the many regions now affected by Operation Iraqi Freedom, are authorized to send mail, packages, and donations to military personnel.

According to Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Gary Keck, “we request that people don’t overwhelm our mail system. Because of this, only family members and friends of the troops may send letters or other objects.”

This measure is not new. The Defense Department suspended the mail programs known as Operation Dear Abby and Operation Any Service Member last October, because the delivery of letters and packages was so voluminous that there was not enough space in the planes to transport materiel and other military supplies.

In order to support the troops, the Defense Department recommends the use of e-mail and donation programs that include greeting cards and free calling cards for the troops.

To find out about these programs, read more on line at www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html or www.usocares.org/home.htm.

To send email in support of any service member, click on www.lifelines2000.org or www.anyservicemember.org/main.html.