North Country Senator Patty Ritchie, D-Theresa, announcing that once again this year, she collected more than 10,000 holiday greeting cards through the ‘Christmas Cards for Our Troops’ program.

The program is an initiative that helps send warm wishes to service men and women who are deployed overseas, stationed on army installations throughout the world, and our veterans, including those recovering in veterans’ hospitals.

Cards collected at Senator Ritchie’s three district offices — which were donated by area students, seniors, local churches and community groups, local county clerks, local businesses, individuals and families—were given to the ‘Christmas Cards for Our Troops program’, which sent roughly 200,000 cards to troops and veterans across the globe this year.

This annual effort is spearheaded by the Albany Veterans Miracle Center and Ogdensburg native and radio personality Melody Burns.

“It was amazing to see people from all walks of life come to my offices and bring in boxes full of cards. Every person signed every card with a special message to our troops, letting them know we are not forgetting them and their sacrifices during this holiday season,” said Senator Ritchie.

“In return, our service men and women not only get a small piece of home, but they know that we are thinking of them. They know that we are supporting them and helping to support their families while they are away. I am still amazed every time I see someone going out of his or her way to participate in a program like this. I want to thank everyone who brought in a card and all of our troops serving now, or who served in the past.”

Hundreds of cards were brought in after the deadline to send out through the program had passed.

Those cards were delivered to local organizations that support troops, their families and veterans including local VFWs, American Legion posts and the USO Fort Drum, among others.