10/11/2026
Honor Flight Tri-State
Mail Call Program
Help Us Honor Our Veterans — One Letter at a Time!
Honor Flight Tri-State needs your help!
One of the most emotional and memorable moments of every Honor Flight is our Mail Call Program, and we invite you to be part of this special tradition.
Each veteran who travels with Honor Flight Tri-State receives a large envelope filled with handwritten letters, cards, drawings, and personal notes expressing appreciation for their military service and sacrifices.
For many veterans, these simple expressions of gratitude mean more than words can describe. We have watched veterans smile, laugh, and shed tears as they read heartfelt messages from people they have never met.
One comment we hear far too often is: "I didn't know anyone cared about us.
Your letter can help change that.
Why Is Mail Call So Special?
For veterans who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, receiving mail from home was often one of the most anticipated moments of military life.
There were no cell phones, FaceTime, text messages, emails, or instant communication. Letters were sometimes the only connection between service members and their families.
Mail could take 30 to 60 days to arrive, and sometimes it never arrived at all.
When Mail Call was announced, service members eagerly waited to hear their names. Receiving a letter or package from home was a treasured moment. Many would find a quiet place to read their letters, often reading them again and again.
Mail Call provided comfort, encouragement, and a reminder that someone back home cared.
Today, Honor Flight Tri-State carries on that tradition, giving our veterans the opportunity to experience that same feeling of appreciation and connection.
We Need 1,500–1,800 Letters Every Year!
Honor Flight Tri-State conducts four flights each year, and our Mail Call Program depends entirely on the generosity of people throughout our community.
Our supply of letters and cards is running very low, and we need your help to replenish it!
Anyone can participate, regardless of age. We especially encourage:
- Elementary, middle, and high school students
- Scout troops and youth organizations
- Churches and faith-based groups
- Civic organizations and community groups
- Businesses and employee teams
- Veterans organizations
- Families and individuals of all ages
Letters from children, whom we affectionately call "Our Young Patriots," are especially meaningful. Their colorful drawings, thoughtful messages, and sincere words of gratitude bring tremendous joy to our veterans.
Many schools incorporate the Mail Call Program into their Art, English, Social Studies, and History classes, making it a wonderful opportunity to teach students about military service, patriotism, sacrifice, and the importance of thanking those who have served.
What Should You Write?
You don't need to write a long letter or have a personal connection to the military. A few sincere sentences of appreciation can make a lasting impression.
Here are some suggested messages to help get you started:
- Thank you for your service!
- Welcome Home, Veteran!
- Thank you for the sacrifices you made for our country.
- Thank you for defending our freedoms.
- We appreciate everything you have done for us.
- Our veterans are among America's greatest heroes.
- We hope you enjoyed your Honor Flight experience.
- Thank you for helping make our country a better place.
- We honor America by honoring our veterans.
- We love and appreciate our veterans!
- Your service and sacrifices will never be forgotten.
- Thank you for answering the call to serve our nation.
Feel free to personalize your message. A simple, heartfelt note often means more than an elaborate card.
Remember, you may be writing to a veteran who has never received a proper Welcome Home or a personal thank-you for their service.
Guidelines for Writing Your Letters and Cards
To help make every Mail Call experience meaningful, we ask participants to follow a few simple guidelines:
1. Keep your message positive and heartfelt. Short letters and cards expressing appreciation, respect, and gratitude are perfect.
2. Use a gender-neutral greeting. Since your letter may be given to a male or female veteran, we recommend beginning with "Dear Veteran."
3. Keep your message appropriate for all eras of military service.Our flights may include veterans from Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. Please avoid references to specific wars or dates.
4. Encourage patriotic artwork. Children are welcome to include drawings featuring American flags, eagles, stars, red, white, and blue colors, and other patriotic symbols. Please avoid images depicting violence, weapons, blood, bombs, or explosions.
5. Sign with your first name only* You are welcome to include the name of your school, Scout troop, church, business, or organization.
6. Please do not date your letters or cards. Honor Flight Tri-State conducts four flights each year, and we cannot predict which flight will receive your contribution.
7. Multiple copies are welcome. If your group prefers to create one message and make copies, that's perfectly fine! We simply ask that each copy be individually signed.
Patriotic clip art and artwork may also be used to decorate your cards and letters.
How to Submit Your Mail Call Letters
Once your letters and cards are completed, you can mail or deliver them to:
Honor Flight Tri-State Headquarters
8627 Calumet Way
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
Need someone to pick them up?
If your school, business, or organization has collected multiple letters, call 513-277-9626, and we will arrange a pickup.
Would Your School or Organization Like to Learn More?
Honor Flight Tri-State may also be able to arrange an informational presentation for your school, classroom, Scout troop, or organization.
Our presentations offer an opportunity to learn about Honor Flight Tri-State, the veterans we serve, and why recognizing their sacrifices remains so important.
To inquire about a presentation or coordinate a letter collection, please call 513-277-9626.
A Small Gesture. An Extraordinary Impact.
Every veteran who participates in Honor Flight Tri-State has a story. Some served in combat, others served in support roles, and many returned home to little recognition or appreciation.
For our Vietnam veterans in particular, the Welcome Home they deserved was often missing.
Through Honor Flight and the Mail Call Program, we have an opportunity to help make up for that.
Imagine being a veteran in your 70s, 80s, or 90s, opening an envelope filled with letters from strangers who simply want to say, "Thank you. We remember. We appreciate you."
That is the power of Mail Call.
We need 1,500–1,800 letters each year, and right now, we are running low. Please consider helping us make sure every veteran receives the recognition they deserve.
On behalf of the Honor Flight Tri-State Mail Call Team and, most importantly, the veterans we serve, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.
Together, we can make every Mail Call a Welcome Home our veterans will never forget.
