News

Wal-Mart uses kiosks to send messages of support to military

March 31, 2003

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart customers can send one of 15 pre-written messages of support to members of the military via gift registry kiosks located in Wal-Mart stores across the U.S.

Wal-Mart has sent almost 11,000 messages to troops since launching the service on March 24, according to a report on KAPP TV in Yakima, Wash.

According to the report, kiosk users enter their names, pick a message and select which branch of the military they'd like to receive it.

A news item on Wal-Mart's Web site indicates that the kiosk program is part of Wal-Mart's participation in Operation Dear Abby, which has sent hundreds of thousands of letters to U.S. military personnel deployed around the world since its inception in 1967.

Concerns about regular mail delivery have prompted the military to suspend the letter-writing campaign, according to the site.

So instead, Dear Abby, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of the Navy's LifeLines2000 Services Network in association with SPAWAR SCC (National Capital Region) is providing a private and secure online resource that will allow people to send messages to the military.

Messages submitted via Wal-Mart kiosks will be relayed to members of the military through OperationDearAbby.net.