Grave Decoration

Due to concerns around COVID-19, for Memorial Day 2021 we didn’t have our annual in-person grave decoration event. In a number of different ways we honored those who gave their lives for our freedom as well as thanked those still serving. We worked with another non-profit organization called “A Million Thanks.” There were also other ideas on how to honor our fallen soldiers as a troop, pack, or family please click here (goes to goodhousekeeping.com).

A Million Thanks

We invite your Scouts and family members to write letters and messages of appreciation and support for our military, past and present. This May our Scout offices will be serving as drop-off locations for these letters, and we will see that our military – active, reserve, and veterans – receive these messages, whether they are serving at home, abroad, or recovering in hospitals.

Do’s and Don’ts
These letters can take a month or more to reach our troops so please do not make them specific to Memorial Day and instead make it a general thank you letter. We ask that you address the letters generically. Some examples of this may be ‘Dear Hero’ or ‘Dear Troops’. Please do not send us letters that are written to a specific individual. They send your letters to all U.S. Service Men and Women no matter their branch of service. Please note that A Million Thanks does NOT accept commercial, store-bought greeting cards with pre-printed messages inside. All purchased cards must be blank on the inside and the space should be filled with a handwritten message of support and appreciation.

Content
We encourage you to express your sincere appreciation and support in your messages of thanks. The letters received at A Million Thanks are sent to our U.S. Military personnel serving all around the world and many of them do not get mail from home! Include information about yourself. Tell about some of your hobbies. Talk about what you are pursuing in school or what your profession might be. Share about service members from your family. Most importantly, be sure to express your appreciation and send some love from home!

• Send multiple letters together in the same envelope or box, but please bundle the letters in stacks of no more than 50 with rubber bands to keep them together. Bundle the letters or cards in like sizes.
• Only include positive messages. Negative messages will be discarded.
• Be creative! Talk about yourself and maybe draw a picture too! Tell them their service does not go unnoticed. (If you are having little ones color or draw as part of a pack or den meeting, an adult should write a message of thanks and support on the picture as well. All letters sent must have written content).
• Feel free to include your address or email address on each letter you write. Some military will write back to you!
• Our troops need to be encouraged. Be kind and use encouraging words to support them!
• If you are sending multiple letters DO NOT put letters in individual envelopes. Bundle them up and put them in one box or large envelope to mail to us.
• Do not send edible items or other care package items.
• Do not use glitter, confetti, or anything that is not securely attached to the letter or card.
• After completing your letter(s), mail the or bring them to one of our Scout offices (Palo Alto and Foster City Locations) and we will mail them to “A Million Thanks” who will get them out to military personnel.