U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) has represented Missouri's Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1977. His district includes Missouri's state capital, Jefferson City, and much of the Ozark region of the state. The northernmost part of the Fourth District includes Ray County, located north of the Missouri River. The southernmost point of the district is Webster County, only 30 miles from the Arkansas border.

As a youngster growing up during World War II, my heroes were the men and women who wore our nation’s uniform. I will always remember the time my best friend’s older brother, who was on leave from the Army, came to walk my buddy home from school. The sight of Walter in his Army uniform, carrying his gas mask in a satchel he had flung over his shoulder, made a deep impression on me.

Today more than ever, my heroes are still the men and women who serve in America’s armed forces. As the holiday season is upon us, we should each be particularly mindful of supporting our heroes in uniform, such as by sending letters and messages. They boost the morale of service members stationed far from home and show that people care about them and appreciate the work they are doing to protect our freedom.

Although there is a long tradition of writing letters and sending care packages to deployed troops, the Department of Defense urges the general public NOT to send unsolicited mail, care packages, or donations to service members during the holiday season. The increased manpower required to ensure safe mail handling cannot be supported by the military at this time. The Department of Defense continues to emphasize that service members should receive mail only from those friends and family members to whom soldiers give their address.

Members of the general public are encouraged to send messages through official websites that may be accessed by our men and women in uniform. The Department of Defense recommends sending letters and care packages to troops through the following: America Supports You, send an e-mail message or phone card to a service member oversees (www.americasupportsyou.mil) and Operation USA Care Package, contribute to the purchase of care packages for men and women in uniform (www.usocares.org).

Members of the community might want to offer their support by reaching out to families whose loved ones are deployed. The USA Freedom Corps has launched a website, “On the Home Front”, as a resource for people seeking to support families of deployed troops. Some of the opportunities now available through “On the Home Front” include, volunteering with a Veterans Administration hospital or working with a military base, which will match volunteers with families that need help with household repairs or tutoring a child. Local volunteer opportunities can be found through the USA Freedom Corps website at www.usafreedomcorps.gov, or by calling 1-877-USA-CORP.

Participating in any of these projects will help boost the morale of service members and their families, as well as give volunteers a chance to contribute to our country. I encourage everyone to get involved in activities to support our men and women in uniform.