Name: American Legion collects 17,000 Christmas cards for troops overseas
Uploaded: 2025-11-27T03:48:23.266Z
Duration: 2 min 9 s
Description: Thousands of Christmas cards collected by volunteers and organizers at the American Legion Pat Tillman Post #117 in Phoenix are in transit to U.S. troops overseas.

Thousands of Christmas cards collected by volunteers and organizers at the American Legion Pat Tillman Post #117 in Phoenix are in transit to U.S. troops overseas.

Phoenix

The American Legion Pat Tillman Post 117 in Phoenix organized a community effort to collect and send 17,000 handwritten Christmas cards to U.S. troops deployed around the world. The initiative, which started in 2017, has grown each year with the support of volunteers, other Legion posts, and local organizations.

The cards are intended to thank service members for their sacrifices and remind them they are not forgotten during the holidays. Troops have expressed gratitude for the cards, saying they provide comfort and a sense of connection while stationed far from home.

American Legion collects 17,000 Christmas cards for troops overseas

thousands of Christmas cards are officially in transit sent to troops overseas. It took a ton of community support from volunteers and organizers at the American Legion Pat Tillman post 117 Fox 10's Ashley Rodriguez shows us the spirit behind this major effort. I can fill my back seat up. Reina's price rolls out boxes packed with thousands of Christmas cards preparing to deliver them to the post office. The annual tradition for volunteers of American Legion Pat Tillman post 117 started off small, just hoping to send some Christmas cheer to deploy troops overseas. But after a few batches went out, Post Auxiliary President Christine Rodriguez started to receive emails from service members thanking her for thinking of them during the holidays. That right there, like a little fire. I wanted to do more. The U. S. Has 750 bases around the world and about 173,000 active duty service men and women deployed to 159 countries as far as Germany, Japan and Australia. A lot of these guys, even though they're around everybody, they're still lonely for their family. Since starting the tradition in 2017 post 117 set a goal to collect 1000 more cards each year asking for help from other posts, community members and Cub Scouts. The cards thanking them for their sacrifice for the country and reminding the troops they're not forgotten. So let's get this loaded up and taken to the post office this year. After an outpouring of support, the post was able to collect 17,000 handwritten Christmas cards. We've gotten cards back from the troops saying thank you so much. It felt so good to get that know that people cared for us and it does make you feel good. That's why we do this and that's why we're here with thousands of troops around the world who won't be home for Christmas. Filling up a care package with cards, cookies and trinkets means the world to our sailor soldiers and airmen and women. If you would like to donate one of your own, drop it off at the Pat Tillman Post 117 on Thunderbird Road in Phoenix. Ashley Rodriguez, Fox 10 News.

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