Send Christmas cards to soldiers

The goal is simple: send as many soldiers a Christmas card as possible.

This is the same goal Green River resident Harry Holler has made for several years, however he wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn’t just him behind the project.

“There is one person I rely one more than anybody to do this,” Holler said. “That’s Lori Hastert.”

Holler said for as long as he’s been collecting Christmas cards for the troops, Hastert has been helping.

“I can’t say enough good things about her,” she said.

Once Holler collects all of the cards from various schools in both Green River and Rock Springs, he takes them to Monroe Intermediate School where they count all of them.

“This year, is the first year is occurred to me to ‘why not put it on Facebook,’” Holler said.

It would be great to get everybody in the country involved in the Christmas card program. Holler said he was excited to receive 150 cards from Georgia, which was surprising.

He also received 30 cards that were blank. Holler said he figured it was sent in by someone who has terrible hand tremors like he has and physically couldn’t fill out the card. Harry had his daughter sign them.

“Who knows where they came from,” Holler said.

Last year, about 18,000 cards were collected and sent to soldiers through care packages. Holler said VFW Post No. 2321 is always good about putting the cards into the care packages they send to the troops for Christmas.

“They’ll get there, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.

Because the care packages have to be sent early to ensure delivery by Christmas Holler is asking residents to have the Christmas cards to him by Monday. He said they can simply drop them off at his house at 1830 South Carolina.

“I’ll take care of them from there,” Holler said.

He said those filling out cards can include a short message such as “God bless you,” “stay safe” or “thank you for your service.”

He said the person sending the card can also include their name, city and state they are from, but not their address.

Holler said he’s not sure why he does this program, but he thinks it might have to do with his son.

Holler said his son served in the U.S. Navy for eight years before he was medically discharged. After being discharged, his son was later killed in a car accident.

“He was my only son and maybe he’s the reason I do this stuff,” Holler said. “I know what it’s like to loose a son. It rips your heart out. There isn’t a day go by that I don’t think about that boy.”

Holler said he is going to keep doing things for soldiers as long as he can.

Holler said for those who don’t want to fill out Christmas cards, but still want to help can give him any unopened left over Halloween candy. It will be included in the care packages. He said just put the bags of candy on the bench on his porch. Monetary donations are always welcome.