Former Rep. Joe Dorman continues to boost spirits of recovering soldiers


OKLAHOMA CITY – Former State Rep. Joe Dorman said he will continue collecting Christmas cards for recovering soldiers under the care of Fort Sill facilities.

Dorman began his “Holiday for Heroes” program in 2009 after hearing from a teacher who had cards returned after her class sent well-wishes addressed to a recovering American soldier at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

In 2010, the first year the program was officially promoted, 500 cards from across Oklahoma were collected and delivered to Fort Sill. In 2013, well over four thousand cards from across the U.S. were delivered to Reynolds Army Hospital and the Warrior Transition Unit located on the Army post.

“Walter Reed will not deliver cards anonymously to patients recovering at the facility and we are trying to stop this fictitious message from being circulated, while at the same time doing a good service for those persons recovering in Oklahoma,” said Dorman.  “This program has brightened the holidays for many persons from all around the world who are healing at Fort Sill over Christmas and I am honored to continue this tradition.”

The commanding general at Fort Sill agreed to let the cards from the students be delivered to patients at Reynolds Army Hospital, and Dormans program has continued on over the years with permission from the post commander.

“This program has been very rewarding for me to help those men and women stationed in my former legislative district who are unable to return home over the holidays,” said Dorman, D-Rush Springs. “I collect these cards in order to ensure those persons who make an effort to send cards showing their support actually have them received by a recovering soldier. ”

Dorman said cards can be sent to:
 
Holiday for Heroes, c/o Joe Dorman
PO Box 559
Rush Springs, Oklahoma 73082
 
Dorman has asked that cards no longer be delivered to his former state capitol address.  

Cards received by December 18, 2014 will be delivered this year.  Cards received after that date will be delivered along with the packages for next year.