Rich Huffstutler has a tall order, and he wants SouthwestMississippi to help him fill it.

The 47-year-old U.S. Navy veteran from Sontag aims to collect5,000 signed Christmas cards from area residents to be distributedto the 150 vets who will be staying at the VA Medical Center inJackson over Christmas. The cards will serve as a reminder thatMississippians care and appreciate their service – whether it was65 years ago in World War II, 30 years ago in peacetime or lastmonth in Iraq.

Right now, he’s got 116 cards – 2 percent of the goal. But ifeveryone adopts the motto of Huffstutler’s SeaBees – the Navy’sconstruction battalions, in which he served – the goal can be met.That motto is “Can Do!”

“With a SeaBee can-do spirit, I believe we can get them,”Huffstutler said of the Christmas cards. “A Christmas card is aminuscule thing, but it means so much. I’d love to go in there,hand them a handful of cards and say, ‘People love you, and weappreciate you so much.'”

Huffstutler invites anyone who wishes to make Christmas a littlemerrier for the veterans who will be confined to a hospital bed onDec. 25 to purchase a small box of Christmas cards, fill them outwith a personal sentiment and ship them to him by Dec. 21. Cardsshould not be sealed in an envelope, as he plans to check each cardto make sure no one writes a negative message.

The cards may be shipped to Huffstutler’s home at 400 West SmithFerry Road, Sontag, MS 39665. He plans to deliver the cards to themedical center personally.

Huffstutler got the idea to send Christmas cards to the vetsreceiving treatment in Jackson after interacting with thehospital.

Out of work for three years with leg and back pain and unable topurchase insurance, he was recently approved for treatment at VAclinics. He said many of the workers at the clinic are veteransthemselves, and his Christmas card mission is small way to show bigsupport for veterans’ service and the hospital’s service toveterans.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we just all sat down and thought, ‘Whocan I help out?'” Huffstutler said. “I don’t think we think aboutthat too much.”

With Christmas approaching, Huffstutler said many groups aremaking efforts to take care of active servicemen – shipping giftsand necessities overseas and honoring families who wait behind.There aren’t near as many efforts to make Christmas merry for thosewho have already served, he said.

“Cards are an inexpensive way of saying, ‘Thank you,'”Huffstutler said. “It doesn’t cost that much at all to buy a box ofcards, but for the vets to have someone recognize and thank themfor their service, that goes a long, long way.”

Debra Thomas, chief of Voluntary Service at Jackson’s VA clinic,said Huffstutler’s idea was “wonderful,” adding that unexpectedChristmas cards for the patients who will be hospitalized will beuplifting. The hospital has already begun Christmas ceremonies forits veterans, she said, and a contribution from outside concernedcitizens would further those efforts.

“Anything you can do for veterans while they’re in the hospitalis a huge deal,” she said. “It shows that someone is caring aboutthem, thinking about them, and it acknowledges the services they’vegiven to their country.”