Text 89279 and say 'Thank you'

By John B. Dwyer

A Pentagon website provides helpful advice on a way to say thanks to those who are far away from home this holiday season, risking their lives for us:

For those seeking a quick way to show appreciation for the troops' service far from home this holiday season, look no further than "Giving Thanks," a new initiative from the Defense Department's America Supports You program. [....]

The program, which already has received nearly 4,000 messages, officially kicks off at 6 a.m. EST Nov. 17 and concludes at midnight PST Nov. 22. Between those times, people wishing to express gratitude to the troops for their service can text a brief message to 89279. Each text message sent will receive a response from an active-duty servicemember in return.

Major mobile wireless providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, will provide access to the Giving Thanks text messaging program.

"We know that thousands of families will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner and thinking about loved ones who are far away from home serving their country," Barber said. "We are counting on other American families to take a moment during their holiday celebration to think of those families and their family members who are serving and say, ‘Thanks.'