USMC Mom,
The large USPS Priority Mail flat rate box is about $14.00 to mail and the weight limit is 70 pounds. The heaviest flat rate box I’ve sent so far was about 22 pounds. Since a friend took command of a unit at Fallujah in 2005, I have been sending packages to Marines and sailors forward-deployed and have mailed somewhere around 500 boxes.
The timeframe from Chicago varies if the service member is at a FOB or at Camp Leatherneck. Larger brown boxes are accepted for military mail but can be pricey. A while back I sent chips and salsa and the postage was more than the value of the contents.
Once, I sent my friend several golf clubs and a bag of used golf balls and the box dimensions were only 2 inches under the maximum limit. The postage was around $80.00. Since my friend and his sergeant major are big golf nuts, the package was a big hit.
At last year’s Birthday Ball, guest of honor Ben Stein asked me why I do it; I said, “It keeps me out of trouble; besides, if not me, then who?”
Good on you! I know the troops appreciate all you’ve done!