As you know, I've been trying to organize some type of letter writing campaign to our soldiers over in Afghanistan. To recap, our military is sending anywhere between 800 and 1500 combat troops to Kandahar in August (These numbers are dependent on what news source you get your information from. When I spoke to CFB Petawawa, the figure they gave me was 1000.) My issue is that we do not have an adequate support system in place for soldier morale. The Department of National Defence (DND) suspended the "Any Soldier" program for security reasons. You can now only send a postcard (i.e. nothing sealed that could contain anthrax or hatemail) to "Any Soldier".

The DND has created a message board where you can leave words of support for our brave boys and girls overseas. This board is a good idea, but I feel it doesn't go far enough, for a few reasons. The first being that not every situation allows for an internet connection. And even if the base in Kabul or Kandahar is wired, can every soldier actually get a moment to access the message board? Hardly. Second, mail call is an important part of every soldier's week. Heck, it's an important part of Harry feckin' Potter's week, imagine how much more it means to someone fighting a war against an unseen and unidentifiable enemy! Words of support, prayers, and cards of best wishes mean so much, and not everyone has family here at home who can write to them. Or who will write to them. Even if they do, the support of a stranger can sometimes mean more, because that person doesn't feel obliged to thank you or worry about you, the way perhaps your mother or sister would feel. It is what the Deepak Chopra types call "random acts of kindness", and it means the world to these guys who feel like any moment could be their last. Third, there is nothing personal for a soldier to hold on to if he reads a message off a BB. There's no folded letter or card he can pull out of his rucksack at night if he can't sleep. There is no postmark, no ink smudge, no privacy. Thousands of other people read those messages every week. It's not just for him.

So the Angels'n'Camouflage stepped up the the plate, and are spreading the word via American soldiers that they wish to adopt any Canadian service member who signs up. It is their policy that no veteran feels unloved, and if that means allies as well as Americans, so be it. We've got U.S. Chaplains contacting Canadian Chaplains. We've got people phoning in favors where they know someone who is serving in a joint operation. These ladies (and a few gents) have resources I could never have tapped on my own!

I figured that perhaps I could leave a message on the DND board, letting our troops know about Angels'n'Camouflage, so that they could get themselves and their buddies signed up before they head over. Know what happened? The board is moderated, and my message and link were not posted, because it was deemed "advertizing and solicitation". Solicitation! There's one that even I have never been accused of before!

On the same day as I received that particular slap in the face, I heard back from the Deployment Coordinator in Petawawa. Actually, I didn't hear back from him specifically. He had forwarded my message up the ranks, but the email I received back was from info@... It was the same form letter I received when I first sent out feelers a month ago, and the same words that are written on the DND website.

Thank you for writing and visiting our Defence web site. Please note that
the
delivery of letters or packages to Canadian Forces members in the care of
"Any Canadian Soldier" overseas is, unfortunately, still under temporary
suspension. Family members and friends of Canadian Forces members
may still send parcels or letters to CF members as long as a full
identification
of the member (rank, name and unit) is provided.

For your information, an individual may write a post card or send an e-mail
to
our members abroad on peacekeeping or military missions by addressing
their message to: 'Any Canadian Soldier'. Please see our web site's home
page
at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/ and click on "Write to the Troops" banner for
instructions and addresses of the various missions.
Thank you for your interest in the Canadian Forces.

I've gotten nowhere. Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised? No, not really.
I am encouraged by the lengths that the American ladies of Angels'n'Camouflage are going to in order that our troops may feel valued by them, and by us.