With the holidays approaching and our country still at war, our thoughts turn to those separated by duty and service at a time when we gather together in the warmth of home and love of our families.

For the fourth year, The Brownsville Herald is asking Rio Grande Valley servicemen and women to send holiday messages and photos to the folks at home.

The Herald’s “Letters Home” campaign has grown with each year bringing more messages of love, hope and humor. This year we’re renewing our campaign that now includes messages from family and friends to military service members overseas.

Soldiers, sailors, and airmen and Marines can send messages and photos via e-mail to Herald editor Rachel Benavidez for publication in our Dec. 25 edition.

Family, friends and supporters can also send messages to those in service. These letters to our troops will be published online Christmas Day.

It’s a small gesture, compared to the gift of service offered year-round by thousands of Valley families, but one that we hope will help bring us all closer together during the holidays.

Letters, messages and photos can be sent by e-mail to Herald editor Rachel Benavidez at rbenavidez@brownsvilleherald.com.

The subject line should read: “LETTERS HOME.” Submissions will be accepted through Dec. 19. Please include full name, rank, branch of service, age, hometown and where you are stationed.

Friends and family in military service are never far from the hearts and minds of their loved ones “back home.” We are thankful for their service, pray for their safety and hope for their speedy return.

LETTERS HOME

Send letters and photos to Herald editor Rachel Benavidez at rbenavidez@brownsvilleherald.com.

The subject line should read: “LETTERS HOME.”

Submissions will be accepted through Dec. 19.

— Servicemen and women include:

NAME

RANK

BRANCH OF SERVICE

AGE

HOMETOWN

WHERE YOU ARE STATIONED

— Friends and family members include:

YOUR NAME AND THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE

NAME OF THE PERSON YOU ARE ADDRESSING

THEIR RANK AND BRANCH OF SERVICE

THEIR HOMETOWN

WHERE THEY ARE STATIONED