John Boehner, December 12, 2003

Certainly, the most significant event of 2003 took place -- and still is taking place -- half a world away, in the Middle East. During the past year, I’ve written several times on this subject. And while I do have strong feelings that we have done and still continue to do a remarkable job in what has become the central front in the War on Terrorism, I want to use this particular column to share with you some ways you may reach out to the men and women serving in Iraq - and Afghanistan - as they prepare to mark the holidays thousands of miles from home.

Whether or not you agree with the military operations, we can all agree that the members of our Armed Forces deserve our support and prayers for a safe return. Here are just a few of the countless ways you and your family may reach out to our overseas Armed Forces personnel -- and those they have helped to free:

Operation Dear Abby. In 1967, a military officer wrote the newspaper columnist Abigail Van Buren to say that the best Christmas present for members of the armed forces would be "just a letter from home." Americans responded overwhelmingly, and "Operation Dear Abby" was born. Thanks to the Internet, there is now an even quicker way to send a message of support to a member of the Armed Forces. By logging onto www.operationdearabby.net, you may send a holiday greeting to men and women in any branch of the military throughout the world.

Operation Hero Miles. Currently, soldiers on two-week "R&R" leave from Iraq and Afghanistan fly to Baltimore, Dallas, or Atlanta free of charge as part of the leave program. However, getting to their hometowns is not quite as easy. Funds to assist them in flying home have been slow to arrive from the federal government, and even if they do arrive more quickly in the weeks and months ahead, many believe they will be insufficient to cover all of the men and women (nearly 500 per day) who arrive home on leave. In these cases, soldiers themselves may be responsible for the cost of flights to their final destinations. These last-minute ticket purchases are often costly for the American soldiers, with some paying up to $1,000 for a plane ticket.

However, through a recently-launched program called "Operation Hero Miles," frequent flyers of most major domestic airlines may donate their miles to soldiers in need of extra assistance in getting home. Nearly 175 million air miles have been donated to Operation Hero Miles thus far, enough for nearly 7,500 domestic round trips. With nearly 150,000 U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, more miles are needed each day. To donate your miles or for more information on this increasingly valuable program, visit the Operation Hero Miles Website at www.heromiles.org or contact the airline with which you are a frequent flyer.

Operation Give. The final program I want to share with you is targeted to a group often overlooked during the American campaign in the Middle East: the Iraqi children. This program - "Operation Give" - coordinates the collection and distribution of toys and other items for children throughout Iraq.

At Operation Give’s website -- www.operationgive.org -- you will find an address to mail toy donations, as well as an opportunity to purchase toys for donation directly through the website itself, saving you a trip to the post office. Donations must be made by January 24th - when Operation Give’s current warehouse contract is set to expire, and there are restrictions on what types of toys you may donate. Though most Iraqis do not celebrate the holiday season as we do, they will soon be celebrating their first calendar year of freedom from Saddam Hussein. After years of tyranny, these children have almost nothing and are very grateful for any toys they may receive.

There are literally thousands of other programs I have not mentioned here -- all serving a single purpose: providing us an opportunity to reach out to others. The holidays give us time to pause and consider what we can add to the lives of those around us -- or even those halfway around the world. Let’s take the time to do just that this holiday season... and throughout the year ahead.

Congressman John Boehner, a Republican, represents the Eighth Congressional District of Ohio.