Ritchie: Over 10,000 Holiday Greetings Collected For Soldiers, Veterans Through "Christmas Cards For Our Troops" Program

State Senator Patty Ritchie announced today that she has collected over ten thousand holiday greetings through the “Christmas Cards for Our Troops” program, an initiative that helps send warm wishes to service men and women who are deployed, in veterans’ hospitals and army installations during this special time of year.

Cards collected—which were donated by students community groups, local businesses, individuals and families—were part of the more than 200,000 distributed through the Christmas Cards for Our Troops program this year.  The annual effort is spearheaded by the Albany Veterans Miracle Center and Ogdensburg native and radio personality Melody Burns. 

“I am thrilled that so many people throughout Central and Northern New York decided to help out and make the holiday season brighter for veterans and members of our military, many who remain deployed around the world and away from family and friends,” said Senator Ritchie.

“From schools and community groups to businesses and our local County Clerks who again joined in the effort this year, the thoughtfulness shown by people across our region will help make the holidays so much brighter for our veterans and active duty troops.”

Cards collected after the deadline were sent to local organizations that support troops, their families and veterans including VFW and American Legion posts and USO Fort Drum, among others. 

Since 2012, with the help of Central and Northern New Yorkers, Senator Ritchie has sent roughly 40,000 holiday greetings to veterans and active duty soldiers through the Christmas Cards for Our Troops program.