“Letters are not left behind on a nightstand . . . when soldiers go into battle. They are taken along and read over and over.”
– Sean J. Byrne, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, 2003

Throughout our nation’s history, military personnel have treasured the letters and care packages received from loved ones back home. Just how has this mail reached its destination through the years? What role has it played in the lives of the men and women who serve and their families? Mail Call, a new exhibition organized with the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, tells the fascinating story of military mail and communication—from the American Revolution to current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the battlefront and at home, mail has long sustained the vital connections between military service members and their family and friends. With compelling documents, photographs, illustrations, and audio stations, Mail Call celebrates the importance of this correspondence.

From the earliest handwritten letters that took months to deliver, to today’s instant communication via email or the Internet, the exhibition presents the changing look and format of mail pieces through the decades. It also examines the complex operations systems set in place to ensure safe delivery. Most significantly, it explores the incalculable role mail plays in maintaining the morale of our troops.

Contents	5-6 freestanding units with reproductions of photographs, illustrations, documents, text panels; vitrines containing objects and audio stations
Supplemental	Exhibition website, educational and promotional resources
Participation Fee	$3,500 per 10-week booking period, plus outgoing shipping
Square Feet	1,000 square feet, est.
Crates	To be determined
Category	History & Culture
Security	Limited
Shipping	Outgoing
SITES Contacts	Ed Liskey, 202.633.3142 (Scheduling) Katherine Krile, 202.633.3108 (Content)
Tour Begins	November 2012

None listed at this time. Please check back again.

None listed at this time. Please check back again.