Mail Terminal Services shipped more than 130,000 cards to troops overseas through its "Mail From Home" program during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, announced Rodger Comstock, president and CEO of MTS. This number exceeded the goal set this year of 125,000 cards.

In all, since MTS launched the program in 2006, more than 330,000 special cards have been distributed to military personnel in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the company's support of Jack Beckman, who races the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing.

"We exceeded our high-level goal this year due to the efforts of all the people at the terminals, the fans and everyone who supports NHRA drag racing," said Comstock. "With everyone's help the program was able to put smiles and a touch of home to 125 to 130 thousand troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Mail Terminal Services shipped more than 130,000 cards to troops overseas through its "Mail From Home" program during the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, announced Rodger Comstock, president and CEO of MTS. This number exceeded the goal set this year of 125,000 cards.

In all, since MTS launched the program in 2006, more than 330,000 special cards have been distributed to military personnel in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the company's support of Jack Beckman, who races the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing.

"We exceeded our high-level goal this year due to the efforts of all the people at the terminals, the fans and everyone who supports NHRA drag racing," said Comstock. "With everyone's help the program was able to put smiles and a touch of home to 125 to 130 thousand troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Soldiers in the war zones receive a package of post cards with individual messages on them, autographed "hero" cards from the Valvoline/MTS team and other DSR teams, as well as National Dragster and Drag Racing Action magazines. Fans are asked to sign and write messages on these unique post cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and the U.S. Army kiosk in the manufacturers’ midway at each event.

"The program may not seem as significant when we're in the NHRA pits, but when you see the messages posted on bulletin boards, outside tents and in fox holes all over the rough terrain of places like Afghanistan and Iraq, that's where it plays an important role," added Comstock.

"Literally, MTS employees spent thousands of hours working on this program. The San Francisco terminal was our lead terminal and they would take their lunch hours and breaks and would fill out cards just to make sure that they got enough cards to send over there.

"The tribute first is to the troops who make everything safe for us and the second is to the people who care enough about them to do what they do for them."

Said Beckman, "As a former Air Force sergeant, I can tell you that every day that you get positive mail your outlook for that day improves. So, I think what the ‘Mail From Home’ program has done over the years is help nearly a third of a million soldiers have a better day due to the small effort on behalf of the fans.

"I am so grateful to Rodger and Karen Comstock for implementing this plan and sticking with it. This is not an inexpensive program for MTS, which includes the costs of printing and shipping, and the fact that they stuck with it through the years speaks volumes to their character. I am very proud to be associated with them."

Fans who are unable to visit the NHRA events but would like to participate in the “Mail From Home” program and send a “Mail From Home” package to a specific soldier, should send the soldier's APO mailing address to mfh.mts@gmail.com. MTS will be pleased to help brighten the day of a soldier.

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