DATE: Thursday, October 23, 1997            TAG: 9710220201

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  101 lines

BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAS HOLIDAY SPIRIT FOR MILITARY MAIL THE CHURCH AND ONE MEMBER'S FAMILY WERE IN THE TOP 10 FOR '96 IN VIRGINIA.

Everybody likes to get mail. But suppose it was Christmas and you were thousands of miles away from home and family and friends. Just think what a letter from ``home'' would mean to you then.

That's the sentiment behind Military Mail, an organization that coordinates the mailing of thousands of letters to members of the U.S. military during the Christmas holidays.

Military Mail traces its roots back to Vietnam Mail Call, a group started in 1965 for troops in the Vietnam War.

Today Military Mail is an ongoing program of Friends of Our Troops. It is an independent, voluntary association of individuals as well as schools, churches and other non-profit organizations.

Since 1987, Suffolk's Bethlehem Christian Church has been a top contributor among Virginia and Ameria's churches to Military Mail.

In the past 10 years, 23,394 Christmas cards and letters have been sent by the Suffolk congregation to American military personnel stationed in the U.S. and around the world. Pouches of mail have been distributed at over 1,000 bases, units, hospitals and some affiliates of the United Service Organizations.

Bethlehem Church member Louise Snook first read about Military Mail in a local newspaper in 1986. The article piqued her interest because she of several relatives in the military - a brother who had served in the Air Force and a son-in-law who, at that time, was serving in Germany.

``I thought it sounded like a wonderful opportunity,'' Snook said. ``It was a way of letting people in the Armed Forces know that we do appreciate what they are doing.''

The first year Snook participated, she sent out about 25 cards. The next year, she introduced the program to her church family and the project caught on with the membership as well as the Girl and Boy Scout troops of the church.

Since 1987, Bethlehem Christian has ranked No. 11 among the churches in Virginia in its contributions to Military Mail.

For 10 years, it has also ranked among the top five churches nationally and, for four of those years, claimed the No. 1 position in the nation.

Individual members of Bethlehem have also gained recognition for their personal contributions to Military Mail.

Evelyne Graham was the No. 1 individual contributor in Virginia in 1992 and 1994-1996. In 1993, member Cindy Holland claimed that spot.

This year special recognition went to Wanda Crumpler and her three daughters - Lindsey, 14, Amanda, 10, and Brooke, 7. The Crumplers were all among the Top 10 individual contributors for 1996 in Virginia. Together they signed and sealed over 800 Christmas cards sending holiday greetings to Armed Forces personnel around the world.

On Oct. 19, Bethlehem Christian celebrated Military Mail Sunday by awarding 46 certificates to church participants and giving decorative pins to those who contributed at least 50 cards.

The Rev. Charles D. Melvin, pastor of Bethlehem and a retired Navy chaplain, congratulated the church on its involvement in this ministry, and Snook awarded letters of special commendation from Gov. George Allen to Evelyne Graham, and Wanda and Brooke Crumpler. These three participants ranked in the top five contributors among Virginians.

Bethlehem's Military Mail participants are quick to say that this ministry is a double-edged blessing. ``It's been such a blessing to us just knowing we can reach out and touch people's lives with our holiday greetings,'' Wanda Crumpler said.

``This project helped my children realize everybody's not home for Christmas,'' she continued. ``They were amazed that people might be far from their families at this special time.''

Brooke Crumpler, age 7, was pleased by the responses she has received through the year. ``There were wonderful letters, pictures of ships and snapshots from Japan,'' her mom said.

In addition, daughter Amanda received a teddy bear in the door last Christmas morning, a surprise from a recipient of one of her 1996 Christmas cards.

According to Snook, each year the church receives cards, letters and phone calls from military personnel around the world. An officer in Germany wrote, ``It means a lot knowing that people at home really care.''

Several Bethlehem members have formed pen pals through Military Mail, and one member received a Christmas Eve ``thank you'' call from Hawaii. The commander of a ship wrote to say how much the men and women under his command appreciated being remembered by friends and supporters from home.

A few years ago, one Bethlehem member was introduced to a new friend through Military Mail. The two exchanged letters and tapes and two years ago, they married.

``Little things mean a lot,'' Snook explained. ``Often these cards come at a lonely or difficult time. . . . I guess it's always good to hear from home - to know there's someone who cares.''

Once Bethlehem Christian Church adopted Military Mail as a major outreach ministry, the news spread to other local organizations. Bethlehem member Robin Morris took the information to Southwestern Elementary School and Principal Ed Carter carried the word from school back to his church at Beech Grove United Methodist in Driver.

Since that time, from 1990-1995, Southwestern School has been the top elementary school in Virginia for Military Mail. And for the last three years, Southwestern has claimed the No. 2 2 spot for elementary schools nationwide. MEMO: For more information about this year's Military Mail, call

Bethlehem Christian Church at 539-4274. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

The Crumplers, from left, Amanda, 10, Lindsey, 14, Wanda, and

Brooke, 7, are a Top 10 family in Military Mail.

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