Thursday, November 24, 2005

Some things in life bring a tear to my eye -- reminiscing about my deceased brother, remembering the birth of my only son. I had that reaction when I read the Nov. 13 Metro article about Pat Jacobs, "Santa Claus to 700," who is sending care packages to all 700 soldiers in her son's 173rd Airborne Brigade.

However, my emotional high and tear of patriotic thanks almost turned into a tear of anger when I saw that the U.S. Postal Service was going to charge Ms. Jacobs more than $3,000 to deliver the care baskets to Afghanistan.

Perhaps the Postal Service could spread a little Christmas joy and pick up the tab for this woman's labor of love.

The Postal Service is proud of

its unofficial motto -- "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

I would love to affix to that noble expression: "even if it is for care baskets to Afghanistan at the Postal Service's expense."

DAVID R. TOLSON

Upper Marlboro