In the U.S., there's a tradition for kindergarteners and schoolchildren to send letters and postcards to troops overseas, first responders, and veterans. Since they're from kids, you'd think that teachers would at least glance at them to make sure there's nothing crazy in them. Yet, some pretty hilarious things have made their way into letters to soldiers over the years.
A few ex-soldiers on TikTok have been sharing the most unhinged and funny things they and their brothers-in-arms have seen while going through piles and piles of letters and cards from children they have received while on active duty. But perhaps those messages shouldn't shock us that much; after all, children tell it like it is, right?
It's a tradition for children in U.S. schools to send letters to troops overseas
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
And since kids have no filter, some pretty hilarious stuff makes it into soldiers' hands from time to time
Image credits: patloller
One veteran went viral for sharing some of the gems he has received while on active duty
Image credits: unitedforthetroops (not the actual photo)
Image credits: patloller
His post has garnered millions of views
Such humorous and unique letters from children lift the spirits of soldiers from all around the world
If you're not American, you may think this is a strange tradition. Why would schoolchildren and kindergarteners be told about such grown-up things like military conflict and weapons, and even asked to write support letters to the troops overseas?
Well, it's not only about that. Most children are unable to grasp the severity and seriousness of these concepts. They are, however, able to understand the concept of a letter and well-wishing. And that's what these letters basically are: an exercise in writing letters.
And it's not a U.S.-specific phenomenon, either. Children in New Zealand write and send letters to New Zealand personnel in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and the Middle East region. These letters are also a great way to lift the spirits of troops during the Christmas season.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Defence Force explains that this activity can be part of students' curricula in social studies and current affairs. "Many children automatically think of weapons and tanks when they think of soldiers, but those aspects are only a very small part of what we do."
In the case of NZDF, it also educates children about what the New Zealand military does. "Much of our work overseas is based on peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance and, for example, in Iraq and Afghanistan, training."
As you'll see from the comments above, many soldiers keep the most memorable and funniest letters with them throughout their deployment. New Zealand's Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Putze says that these letters are a great success in lifting troops' spirits.
"Many of the comments made us laugh and think about our own families back home. There was one letter that really struck a chord with one of our officers, so much that she carried it around with her until the end of her mission because it made her smile every time she read it!" Putze recalls. "She now has it with her back in New Zealand."
Other soldiers had hilarious letters to share, too: "Say 'hi' to my cousin Zach"
Comments under another veteran's post cracked people up as well: "Have a good war," some kid wrote
Image credits: creiser36
