In today's era of technological communication methods such as e-mail, text messaging and FaceBook, the simple handwritten letter has become a relic.

But there is something to be said for holding a piece of paper and knowing that the words written on it were created by a live person, that pen met paper and thought went into the message and the moment. And for service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, a simple card or letter can symbolize something much more powerful and poignant than just news from home or kudos for a job well done: It serves as a tangible reminder that their service and sacrifice is not forgotten.

Dodge Ram, Soldiers' Angels and the Zac Brown Band have joined forces to bring one million letters from home to U.S. servicemembers serving overseas with a Letters for Lyrics campaign. In exchange for submitting a letter or postcard to a service member, participants receive a free copy of "Breaking Southern Ground," a new CD featuring country artists the Zac Brown Band, Sonia Leigh, Levi Lowry and Nic Cowan. Postcards are available at Dodge Ram dealers nationwide, Zac Brown Band concerts and online at www.ramtrucks.com/lettersforlyrics.

The program - which launched May 10 - has amassed about 400,000 letters so far, said Toby Nunn, director of operations for Soldiers' Angels, a nationwide nonprofit organization that assists veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families. 

"The response has been wonderful," he said. "It's a CD you can't get anywhere else and (the program) lets soldiers know that there are a lot of Americans supporting them and thinking about them."

"What it (says) in a big way is that a nation is grateful and hasn't forgotten them over there," said Julie Morelli, Washington state leader for Soldiers' Angels.  "It's a huge morale boost."

Soldiers' Angels distributes the letters as they come in, Nunn said, and ships them to service members at a variety of destinations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The campaign will continue until the goal of one million letters is reached, said Steve Crosetti, general manager of Tacoma Dodge and a former soldier. So far, he said, his dealership at 4101 S. Tacoma Way has submitted several hundred postcards to the program.

"We go out of our way to treat our military customers with respect," Crosetti added, noting that about 30 percent of his customer base is military. "It's a very, very big deal for me."

The program also serves as a reminder that America still has troops serving in harm's way. "It's important not just for guys downrange but to bring awareness over here as well. It's a reminder that there are people over there still fighting," said Morelli.

Phil Richards, a construction sales representative with Tristate Exteriors, filled out a Letters for Lyrics postcard while waiting for his car to be serviced Monday at Tacoma Dodge.

"When I'm feeling down about the economy or whatever, I think about the guys over there and know they have it worse," he said.

"It felt good to think that people really do care that we are out there fighting something they are glad they don't have to fight," said Senior Airman Sloane Devens, who recently returned from a deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq, where she received letters from different military support organizations. "That was really special."

For more information, visit www.ramtrucks.com/lettersforlyrics, www.soldiersangels.org, or www.zacbrownband.com.