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to have snacks (while junk food is more popular, healthy stuff goes over well too) in travel-sized bags. Beef jerky, trail mix, and any type of candy that won't melt are always well-received.

Practical joke materials are so much fun to receive. My mom sent everyone in my platoon Whoopee Cushions; boy, did we find ways to get in trouble with those. There's nothing like squeezing the air out of one of them when a Lieutenant Colonel walks by! Water balloons are great fun, too - not only can you craft hilarious missiles out of them, you can cool your buddies off on a hot day (you're actually doing them a service when you annihilate them from a rooftop).

I've heard many people suggest travel-sized toiletries; while it's very thoughtful, bear in mind that most Soldiers already have those things and they're readily available through the military if the need arises for more. Also know that you're not supposed to send aerosols, pornography, or pork products through the mail. The only one the post office is concerned about is aerosols; no one will care if you include one of the other "taboo" products, either. (Slim Jims contain pork, and those are always in care packages.)

If you've got the time to include local newspaper clippings, do so. It's so nice to hear what's happening on the home front, especially if it's got positive references to the war or Soldiers. Comic strips are great, as are print-offs of funny cartoons from the internet. My mom used to send us copies of jokes from her e-mail, and those always circulated through the ranks.

No matter what you send, just know that it'll be greatly appreciated by the troops. Nothing perks up morale like a piece of mail!

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
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