This year, while most Americans are watching football or putting the champagne on ice, thousands of U.S. service members will be spending New Year's Eve in Iraq and Afghanistan. The holidays are obviously a very tough time of year for our troops and their families back home, so we at IAVA wanted to create a unique way for everyone in America to show them how much we appreciate their service. And we came up with something pretty damn cool called Operation New Year's Eve.
Operation New Year's Eve is a campaign that lets Americans send text messages of support to our troops via the tallest billboard in New York City's famous Times Square. Almost one million people will be in Times Square to see the sign, and tens of millions will be watching on TV around the world. And thanks to the magic of the internet, no matter where you are, you can view the sign right now by visiting www.OperationNewYearsEve.org.
Anyone in Times Square with a cell phone can send a thank you message 48 stories high -- and see it displayed within minutes. But you don't have to be in New York to get involved. You can send your own message right now from wherever you are by sending a text to 94444. Just add the word 'CARE' before your message (for example: "CARE Thank you for your service! Love, Arianna."). The word 'CARE' will not appear on the sign.
Standard rates apply, and posting a message to the billboard only costs $0.99 (and a portion of the proceeds from the $0.99 charge will be donated to IAVA).
Please send a message now, and help us spread the word about this great campaign. And have a happy New Year -- no matter where you are.
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Posted December 31, 2007 | 09:23 AM (EST)