A Million Thanks!

2,600,000

Thank You Letters

for Our Troops

Shauna Fleming, left, and Principal Gregg Pinick of Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif., stand to honor fallen servicemembers after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of the school. Defense Dept. photo by Samantha L. Quigley

Meet Shauna Fleming. Shauna is 17, a student at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California, and the founder of A Million Thanks. Her original goal was to collect and send one million thank you letters to our troops. Her principal, Greff Pinick, helped her by giving her use of the school's address, space and assistance with her school schedule. The one millionth letter was presented to President Bush.

Last week, Shauna and Principal Pinick presented the 2,600,000 letter - representative of the 2.6 million men and women in the active and reserve of the nation's armed forces - to Army Command Sgt Maj William J Gainey at the Pentagon.

Shauna and Principal Pinick participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. Then, they went to Fisher House and Malogne House to deliver 600 cards to the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

"To be able to say thank you to somebody is a pretty simple thing. We learn it when we're young. We tend to forget it a little bit when we're older," said Principal Pinick. "Shauna has provided an opportunity for so many people around the country to just be able to say thank you."

"I'm very thankful to the men and women that serve us each and every day. We are grateful, and we know what they're doing makes a difference in our lives."

Visit A Million Thanks and send a letter!!

Thank you Shauna Fleming, Principal Pinick and the students at Orange Lutheran High School. You have given something very precious to others!