Washington, D.C.—More than 36 million messages! That's how many messages www.OperationDearAbby.net has posted from well-wishing individuals to servicemen and women in the Middle East and around the world. OperationDearAbby.net is an official Department of Defense program and secure Web site.

The original mail campaign, Operation Dear Abby, was created in 1967 by Dear Abby, the most widely syndicated columnist in the world. The Internet version was launched Dec. 20, 2001, after anthrax attacks made it impossible for letters and packages to be mailed to generically-addressed military units or no-named addresses.

Today, OperationDearAbby.net is the White House's and Pentagon's preferred method for the public to send individually-written electronic messages of support to U.S. troops. Because it serves all branches of the military, individuals sending messages can be assured that their sentiments are directed to the military branch of their choice.

"Despite well-meaning individual's wishes to mail cards, letters or packages to servicemen and women with only a troop number or unit address, it is in the best interests of our young men and women who are overseas to use OperationDearAbby.net to send messages," says CDR Rudy Brewington. "Sending an electronic message is faster, easier and safer for loved ones than sending unsolicited mail."

Messages are delivered by the military electronically to any service member's computer. For service members without a computer, the military prints out and delivers messages at mail calls or posts to bulletin boards.

For further information contact:

Kathie Kerr (kkerr@amuniversal.com) at 800-255-6734 x6945