For Immediate Release             November 20, 2006

A Southern California teenager accomplished this week what no one else has been able to do; thank every person serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in writing.

Shauna Fleming, 17, began her thank you letter campaign, “A Million Thanks” in March, 2004 with the goal of sending one million thank you letters and emails to the men and women serving our country.

After reaching that goal, she met General Richard B. Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (now retired), who challenged her to continue to the 2.6 million mark. That number represents the total number of men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces including 1.2 million Reservists.

“When General Myers challenged me, I knew I had to continue to 2.6 million. I have had tremendous support from my school, Lutheran High, my family, as well as hundreds of thousands of Americans who want our military to know we appreciate them,” said Fleming.

Fleming, now a high school senior, has a section in the school office to gather the thank you letters sent to her organization from people all over the country. Each letter is opened, read, sorted, counted, and packaged for shipping to either individual soldiers or to military bases or military hospitals. The school even holds mail sorting parties attracting as many as 100 students.

“The Holidays are the hardest time for our military. Even though not every soldier personally received a letter from us, symbolically they did, all 2.6 million of them. I want them to know we appreciate them more than words or letters could ever say,” Fleming added.

For more information, visit www.aMillionThanks.org

Contact:
Shauna Fleming, founder A Million Thanks.org
Email: aMillionthanks@aol.com
Gregg Pinick, Principal, Lutheran High 714) 998-5151

High-resolution courtesy photo supporting this story available at http://amillionthanks.org/Images/Photos/Shauna_With_Letters_Hi.jpg