Walter Reed Hospital: Christmas Cards For The Troops

There have been calls to send Christmas cards to A Recovering American Soldier at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. However, the center closed in 2011, and the newer Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers. Current security measures do not allow envelopes with anonymous recipients, and such mail will likely be discarded or returned to the sender. Instead of sending cards to Any Soldier or Any Wounded Soldier, people are encouraged to donate to nonprofits supporting troops and their families or participate in the Red Cross' Holidays for Heroes program, which provides stamped cards for ill or injured service members to send to their loved ones.

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Ave closed in 2011

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, located on Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C., was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center for over a century. The hospital was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who made significant contributions to the understanding of yellow fever. Over the years, the medical center expanded and played a crucial role in medical advancements and education.

However, in 2011, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed its doors. The decision to close the facility was made as part of a Base Realignment and Closure announcement in 2005. The Department of Defense proposed replacing the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with a new, joint medical facility that would serve all branches of the military. This new facility, named the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), was established in collaboration with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

The closure of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Ave was gradual to ensure continuity of care for the thousands of service members, retirees, and families who relied on its services. During this transition period, efforts were made to redirect well-wishers who traditionally sent holiday cards to "A Recovering American Soldier" at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It was communicated that such cards could pose a security risk and would need to be discarded unopened. Instead, people were encouraged to donate to nonprofit organizations supporting troops and their families.

The former site of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center has since been redeveloped as "The Parks at Walter Reed", a mixed-use development that includes residential, commercial, and outdoor amenities. The historic buildings and grounds have been preserved, paying tribute to the medical center's rich history and architectural significance. The newer Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers, emphasizing the continued importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of patients and staff.

The newer facility does not accept unaddressed cards

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C., closed in 2011. It merged with the National Naval Medical Center to form the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The newer facility does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers.

In the past, social media posts have circulated with instructions to send Christmas cards to "A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20307-5001." However, this address is no longer valid, and the newer facility does not accept cards addressed to "Any Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier." Such mail will be discarded unopened or returned to the sender for security reasons.

If you want to send holiday cards to service members, you can participate in the Red Cross's Holidays for Heroes program. This program provides stamped cards for ill or injured service members to send to their loved ones. You can contact your local Red Cross office or visit their website for more information.

Alternatively, you can consider making a donation to one of the many nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping troops and their families, such as those listed on the "America Supports You" website (www.americasupportsyou.mil). Your support will be appreciated and safely delivered to those who need it.

The US Postal Service will not deliver mail to Any Soldier or Any Wounded Soldier

The US Postal Service will not deliver mail to "Any Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier" due to security concerns. This policy was implemented after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as mail from strangers to unnamed soldiers must be discarded unopened for everyone's safety. The US Postal Service provides the following explanation for this policy:

> "Mail to 'Any Service Member' that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. Instead of sending an 'Any Wounded Soldier' letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families."

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Ave closed more than five years ago in 2011, and any cards sent to its old address will be returned to the sender. The newer Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers. This policy has been communicated by both the medical center and the US Postal Service.

Instead of sending cards to "Any Soldier" or "Any Wounded Soldier," there are alternative ways to support service members and their families during the holiday season. The Red Cross's Holidays for Heroes program provides stamped cards for ill or injured service members to send to their loved ones. Individuals can also assist service members, veterans, and their families by providing cards they can send home during the holidays. These cards should not include personal contact information, only a first name.

People can donate cards to the Red Cross' Holidays for Heroes program

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Avenue closed in 2011, and the newer Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers. The U.S. Postal Service also does not accept mail for "Any Soldier," "Any Wounded Soldier," or similar. This is due to security concerns and the safety of patients and staff at medical centers.

Instead of sending cards to "Any Wounded Soldier" at Walter Reed, people can donate cards to the Red Cross Holidays for Heroes program. This program enables Americans to "Give Something That Means Something" during the holiday season and other holidays year-round. The public is invited to join their local Red Cross offices to thank and recognize members of the military, veterans, and their families through a variety of activities.

The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is now called Holidays for Heroes, and there is no longer a national P.O. Box for the program. Instead, people can contact their local Red Cross office to get involved in activities that thank and recognize military members and veterans in their communities.

The American Red Cross Holidays for Heroes program accepts cards and large banners that will be distributed to service members and families near and far. Families, schools, universities, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, libraries, and local businesses have all participated in this unique program. Many community members choose to host card-making events with friends, neighbors, or colleagues.

To get involved, people can check with their local Red Cross office for times and locations of events and opportunities to participate. This change provides Red Cross regions with greater flexibility to develop the program to meet the specific needs of their community.

Cards can be sent to local military hospitals, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C., closed in 2011. Any cards sent to the old address, addressed to "Any Soldier" or "A Recovering American Soldier", will be returned to the sender because the address no longer exists. The facility reopened as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, but it does not accept unaddressed cards for recovering soldiers.

However, those who live in the jurisdiction of the organization's National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region chapter can have their cards distributed to local military hospitals, including the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. It is important to note that letters sent to Army, fleet, or diplomatic post offices must include the recipient's name, rank, and unit. Addressing cards to "Any Service Member" is no longer permitted by the United States Postal Service.

Instead of sending cards to unnamed soldiers, consider making a donation to one of the many nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping troops and their families. The "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil, lists over 300 such organizations.

Another option is to participate in the Red Cross's "Holiday Mail for Heroes" or "Holidays for Heroes" program, which provides stamped cards for ill or injured service members to send to their loved ones. The deadline for all cards, including Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, is typically around the end of November. To participate, you can mail completed bundles to the American Red Cross in the relevant region. For example, the address for the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region is:

American Red Cross in the National Capital Region

ATTN: Holiday Mail for Heroes

8550 Arlington Blvd

Fairfax, VA 22031

Frequently asked questions