Deadlines for Overeas Holiday Packages for Troops Approaching

Illinois' Belleville News Democrat says, "It's not too soon to start thinking about shipping holiday packages, cards and letters overseas to deployed troops."

Holiday packages must be mailed by Nov. 13 to reach troops stationed at APO or FPO ZIP codes for the holidays. Priority mail and first class letters or cards mailed to APO/FPO ZIPS 090-092,094-098, 340 and 962-966 must be mailed by Dec. 11. Priority mail and first class letters and cards to APO/FPO ZIP 093 must be mailed by Dec. 4 to reach the overseas destination in time for the holidays.

All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations.

The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on special charter flights, commercial airlines and military service aircraft to reach armed services members overseas as quickly as possible.

Loretta Tolliver, manager of customer relations for the U.S. Postal Service, is quoted as saying, "There may be no bigger morale booster than mail for our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen during the holidays. Packages and letters bring them closer to family and to the comforts of home."

More information about shipping to APO/FPO destinations can be found at www.usps.com.