The idea sounds honorable -- send a Christmas card to a wounded soldier to show your support and appreciation of their service.

But ConsumerAffairs.com has learned there's incorrect information in an e-mail now circulating around the Internet that suggests Americans send holiday cards to "A Recovering American Soldier" at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The e-mail states, "If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get."

But the Washington D.C. medical facility that cares for more than 150,000 soldiers says it can't accept these types of letters and packages under a 2001 policy designed to ensure the safety of its patients and staff.

"All military installations, not just Walter Reed, cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001," according to a statement on the medical center's Web site. "This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense."

The United States Postal Service (USPS) also no longer accepts letters or packages sent to "Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier."

"This practice is prohibited due to the risks facing deployed military forces," the USPS states. "Previous programs that allowed people to send mail to service members unknown to them were discontinued following the terrorist attacks of 2001. This includes the 'Any Service Member,' 'Any Wounded Warrior,' 'Any Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine' mail program for military personnel."

"Mail to 'Any Service Member' will not be delivered," the service said.

What you can do

Military officials, however, say there are several ways Americans can show their support of troops this holiday season:

• Participate in The American Red Cross' Holiday for Heroes campaign, which distributes cards and letters to wounded warriors at military hospitals around the world. Letters and cards should be sent to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. All letters must be postmarked by December 7 to ensure Christmas delivery.
• Send a calling card or gift certificate to a servicemember on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's (AAFES) Web site. Scroll down to the AAFES Community Center and click on "Help Our Troops Call Home" or "Gift Cards/Certificates for Our Troops."
• Ask friends and family members for the names of deployed soldiers and send care packages and cards directly to those servicemembers.
• Send a note of thanks to the troops on the United States Department of Defense's Web site.
• Visit local Veterans Affairs medical centers and nursing homes.
• Volunteer to help a servicemember's family.
• Attend a "Welcome Home Hero" ceremony at your local airport.
• Ask your local National Guard armories and Reserve Centers if letters of support for recently returned or soon-to-deploy troops can be sent.
• Support the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• Fly the American flag at your home or business.