We just posted a press release to the ISS website about the efforts USstoragesearch.com and its member facilities are making to support and honor members of the U.S. military for Memorial Day. More than 3,000 USstoragesearch members are offering a free month of storage and a 5% discount on packing supplies to veterans, service members and their families. I thought this was pretty cool. Now I'm curious to know if there are any other facilities out there doing things to support troops?

(If you want to read the story mentioned above, visit http://www.insideselfstorage.com/hot...ary-promo.html.)

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Teri Lanza
Business Development Manager/Ed Director
Inside Self-Storage

What a great program. Congratulations to you guys! I hope more will join you in this campaign.

very good program.

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Mel Holsinger, President
Professional Self Storage Management, LLC
3434 E. Kleindale Ste. E
Tucson, AZ 85716
O: 520.320.9135
F: 520.320.9435
www.proselfstorage.com

I am proud to say we are in on it. Thanks for the wonderful idea. We need to do more to support our troops and Veterans.

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Lovin it.

We're participating, too. We normally offer a military discount, though.

A few years ago, we ran a month long promotion for Any Soldier at one of our businesses. Any customer or employee could participate. "Any Soldier" collects toiletries, snacks, recreational material, clothing, etc for soldiers in combat zones. It's 100% volunteer based and they have designated soldiers who route the packages and letters to soldiers who don't get much mail from home or the ones who are far away from PXs and need stuff. You can go to their website and select a branch of service, read the things the soldiers are asking for and send whatever you want. They love just getting letters, too, so it's not just about sending "stuff."

We ended up sending 18 boxes of stuff that included frisbees, softballs, books, snacks of all kinds, beanie babies (they give them to the local kids to make friends), toilet paper, shampoo, CDs, DVDs, batteries, and just a boatload of other things. People donated whatever they wanted to from the list of suggestions we posted and we paid the shipping. A lot of the things, like the books and DVDs, etc were gently used, and that was fine. We got some really nice letters back, too. It was a lot of fun.

The thing is, a lot of us thought we should be out of there and a lot thought otherwise, but it didn't matter. It was about supportiing the soldiers, no matter what anyone thought about the war itself. We're right outside Selfridge ANG base. We see the planes come and go. We see the soldiers. It's personal, not political.

One other thing, if I may? For the last couple of years, I have been approaching people who have the WWII Veteran license plates and simply thanking them for fighting for my freedom. At first, I was reluctant for all of the reasons anyone would be. I'm in a hurry, or this person will think I'm a wacko, or what will I say, etc. None of that matters.

A couple weeks ago, I saw an elderly man with a WWII Veteran cap on. I simply walked up and thanked him for defending our freedom. He told me he signed up at 17 and drove a tank on the beach at Normandy when he was 20. He fought in Belgium, France, and Germany. I told him that I appreciated what he did for me. When I walked a way, he was wiping his eyes with his hanky.

Try it. It'll make you feel good. But more important, it seems to make THEM feel good. They're all dying now. Say somethig while you still can.

Wow. You have inspired me. How often does a stranger come up and give you a kind word about anything, let alone something momentous? I applaud your "Any Soldier" program, but your personal actions are admirable. Thanks for sharing that!

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Teri Lanza
Business Development Manager/Ed Director
Inside Self-Storage

Thank you both for the kind words, but I honestly don't think I'm doing anything except what I should be doing. They're all dying now and we don't have much time left to let them know that we appreciate what they did for us. This is true of all Veterans, but something about the WWII vets really gets to me. Maybe because when I think of what could have happened if we'd lost that war, I shudder.

I hope a lot of people will start thanking them. I've never once had a bad experience. For the most part, they are very touched. You don't have to talk long. I often ask if I can shake their hand. Most conversations only last a couple of minutes. But, it really seems to make an impression on them.