A lot can hinge on a promptly sent thank-you note.

By Kimberly Seville

The thank you I received from the USO is among my favorites. It reads in part:
“Mrs. Seville, I’ve seen first-hand the magic your gifts can perform … the relieved look on the face of an exhausted GI as she finds a USO Center in a strange airport … the awkward grin of a young Marine when a famous rock star shakes his sandy hand and says, ‘Thanks! We’re here for you. You’re the real star!’ … the warm feeling that comes from a cold Coke on a hot day in the desert, served with a friendly smile and an encouraging word. And nothing compares to the sound of a child’s voice when Mommy or Daddy calls home from ‘the war.’”