My good friend Erick Erickson at RedState e-mailed me tonight about an exciting new project run by the Department of Defense through its America Supports You initiative. Beginning tomorrow, you can say thanks to the men and women serving in the military by sending a text message.

Beginning at 6 am EST on Saturday, November 17, and ending at midnight PDT on November 22, Americans can text a message of thanks to 8-9-2-7-9. Within seconds, the sender will receive a reply on his or her cell phone from America Supports You (ASY). The message will come from a member of the armed forces or a family member of someone who is serving, who will express his or her appreciation for the support, both personally and on behalf of others who are serving.

Because all the major mobile wireless providers—AT&T Wireless (Cingular), Verizon, Sprint (Nextel, Qwest), and T-Mobile—will provide access to the ASY text message program, there is no upcharge.

U.S. troops are serving in 177 countries, and I can’t think of a better way to express your appreciation. Well, then again, there is another way. This year you can also send an extra Christmas card to a recovering soldier at Walter Reed. All you need to know is this address:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

I hope you do one or both. I certainly know that I’m planning to take advantage of both.

UPDATE — 10:28 p.m.: I’m getting all sorts of tips from family today. My Dad sent me the note about Walter Reed and my Uncle Ken just passed along a link to Let’s Say Thanks, a program sponsored by Xerox. You pick out a thank-you card and Xerox will print it and send it to a soldier in Iraq.

UPDATE — Nov. 17, 3:21 p.m.: Jonathan Rick just pointed me to a Snopes alert about the Walter Reed information. Turns out that sometimes a great idea just isn’t practical in these times of heightened security. There’s more information on the Walter Reed website.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to ‘Any Wounded Soldier’ or ‘A Recovering American Soldier’ that Walter Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense.

My apologies for passing along bad information.