Send a card to brighten up the holidays of veterans, veterans homes staff members

The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (NMDVS) and the New Mexico Department of Health are kicking off Operation Holiday Cheer 2022, NMDVS said in a news release.

Launched three years ago, Operation Holiday Cheer urges New Mexicans to send Christmas holiday season cards to bring holiday greetings and cheer to residents and staff of the state veterans homes in Truth or Consequences and Fort Bayard, NMDVS said.

“Many of the resident veterans have little or no contact with family, not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year,” the news release said. “Some residents do not have any surviving family members. Additionally, many of the home’s staff work through the holiday season to provide year-round, round-the-clock care for the residents.”

Cards should be sent directly to the homes, NMDVS said. They will be randomly and evenly distributed among residents and staff.

Cards for residents need only be addressed with “Dear Veteran” or “Dear Hero,” and contain a short message of appreciation for the veteran’s military service.

Cards to staff members can be addressed with “Dear Frontline Hero” or other terms of endearment, along with a brief message of appreciation for providing care for the home’s residents.

Cards should be mailed to:

• New Mexico State Veterans Home, 992 S. Broadway St., Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 87901, ATTN: Operation Holiday Cheer; and
• Fort Bayard State Veterans Home, 41 Fort Bayard Road, Santa Clara, New Mexico, 88026.

For more information, contact NMDVS Public Information Officer Ray Seva at 505-362-6089 and ray.seva@dvs.nm.gov.