Also, I hope no one expects them to write back. They're busy saving their own lives & ours!!
I adopted a soldier last Christmas through another adopt-a-soldier program. I committed to writing once a week and sending a care package once a month. I only had the soldier's name, nothing else.
I received two letters from him--one in answer to my pleas for the types of items he would like to which he said anything I wanted to send and another when he returned in which he thanked me. He also sent a great Iraqi Freedom flag that expressed thanks for my support.
I didn't expect him to become a penpal, but, boy, I wished he could have just jotted down his size, food he likes, music, etc. I think it is great when the programs specifically outline what is wanted or needed.
Don't get me wrong, it was a good experience and a small thing to do. I actually probably got more out of it since my letters became a sort of therapy. I joked I felt like Jack Nicholson writing to his adopted child in Finding Schmidt. My poor soldier probably learned more than he ever wanted to know about my life.