I remember how it was to spend holidays away from home. If we were at home station the entire platoon would all go out to the waffle house for thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. If we were deployed we usually had a big dinner (complements of the us army) and sat around for the rest of the night doing nothing. Looking back it was a small price to pay for our way of life. I think its great to be able to drop a line to the soldiers, to let them know they are appreciated.
I know the feeling... Out of nearly 7 years in the Aarmy I got to spend one Christmas with my family... My most memorable Christmas in the field was 1985 in Honduras... Our CO's father sent us a Christmas tree (it was only 3' tall but it was ours) and we decorated it with handgrenade pins, M-60 and.50 cal links and lite it with chem lights... We spent Christmas eve sitting in the team house aroud that little tree singing Christmas carols and drinking Jim Beam... I got two frag grenades that year... I agree with you detoxsmurf it is a small price to pay for what we have and I for one am glad that there are those (my wife included) that are willing to get out tehre and do it...