Audio News Release: 2007 Holiday Military Mail Deadlines

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The surge in military personnel sent to Iraq has increased mail being delivered there by more than 200 percent. The U.S. Postal Service is reminding families to place holiday mail destined to troops stationed overseas as early as possible and to use the full APO or FPO address. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Bashon Mann.

LT. BASHON MANN SOUNDBITE:

"Mail Call", can be the best part of the day for our deployed military servicemembers, especially around the holidays. With more of our young men and women serving overseas, making sure their mail arrives on time is important to all of us. The first recommended deadline for mail heading to combat zones is Nov. 13, if you're using parcel post, the most economical way to mail to your loved one this holiday season.

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The Postal Service also offers FREE military CareKits to help military families and friends send care packages to their loved ones stationed overseas. The kits include boxes, tape, envelopes and customs forms and can be ordered by calling 1-800-610-8734.

(Preceding audio courtesy of US Postal Service.)

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.