TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Topeka community is being asked to show support for local airmen as they prepare to deploy overseas.
Members of the 190th Air Refueling Wing, based out of Forbes Field in Topeka, are deploying to the Middle East. In response, the organization A Million Thanks is encouraging people in the local community to write letters of encouragement to remind service members they are supported back home.
Leaders at the organization say small gestures, such as handwritten letters, can have a significant impact on the morale and mental well-being of deployed troops. Michele Holly, executive director of A Million Thanks, said service members can often feel isolated while serving far from home.
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“It’s really easy for service members to feel forgotten when they’re so far away,” Holly said. “Connection is one of the most valuable tools that we have as a community to support the mental health, well-being, and morale of our service members.”
According to the organization, letters from community members help remind troops their service is appreciated and that people at home are thinking about them while they are deployed. Anyone interested in participating can visit the A Million Thanks website to pledge how many letters they plan to write and learn more about how to get involved.
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