| Welcome to The Letter Connection, a Project devoted to giving a voice to the Vietnam Veteran. If you were in contact with a Kara S. King about 18 years ago, and you received a letter like the one printed below, then I would like to reconnect with you. Please take a moment to visit our contact page so that we may share your story.
We have gone LIVE on Kickstarter.com! Please check us out and consider supporting! Also, pass on the word to your friends and family!
This Project believes in the value of the service of the Veteran, and would like to promote the telling of stories. We will bring each of you together in a new kind of bond, and create something that your children and grandchildren will cherish forever. This is a place of honor and friendship. Your friendship meant so much to a young girl so long ago... and now I would like to find you again to give you the voice I promised. Please consider contacting us.
DID YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER? A warm hello from The Letter Connection Headquarters in Buffalo, MN. I pray this letter finds you well and enjoying the beauties of life!
Back in 1993, I put an ad in the Veteran "Locator" section requesting Vietnam Veterans to correspond if they were willing to share their story. I said, "… nobody really wants to talk about it." Imagine my surprise when I received responses from guys all over the country. In the end, I was answering letters from about 250 veterans over the span of about two years.
In 1995, I graduated and moved on to California for college, but I have never forgotten the lessons you taught. Though I fell out of communication with most of you, my heart still carries the torch for old friendships with such kind gentlemen who were genuine heroes to me. Not just for your service to our country, but for your courage to carry on, your tenacious grip on life and your willingness to be honest with me. After all, I was just a kid, and as most of you mentioned… pretty innocent. In early 2010. I was going through some boxes from my parents' garage, and I found a box of old letters. YOUR letters. I sat on that filthy floor reading for hours, with tears streaming down my face…
Remembering you has started me on a mission. I am determined to give you the "voice" that I promised you (now almost) 20 years ago. I would like to reconnect and find out where we all have been for two decades. You’ll learn more about me, and I’ll learn more about you. It’s a wonderful adventure!
Whatever we discover, I would like to put it into book form and create something marvelous to share with your children and grandchildren. I would like today's military families to read about your struggles, your emotion and your realities. Perhaps someone will be able to relate a little better, and in turn support their loved one the way you wish you had been supported. We will share in your joys and successes, and maybe see a bit of who you have become as a person now that the war is farther behind you.
I know, I know… I can see you sitting in your kitchen, reading this letter, wondering how this all would work out. But trust me. What you wrote to a 16 year old kid was compelling enough to change my life, and convince me to spend the next year devoted to finding all of you.
You are important. To me... To those who love you... To our nation... To our future.
I respectfully request to contact you. It will be free, easy, painless, and probably even fun. I am planning a national tour (Spring 2012) in which I will travel to the towns of all participating Veterans, with an amazing photographer, to and meet each and every one of you.. It will be something spectacular... And I will finally be able to give you the hug I've been waiting all these years to deliver. Many thanks from a friend who truly hopes to have the opportunity to meet you one day soon.
Sincerely,
Kara S. (King) McCoy
The SEARCH is On!3.10.2011
Over the last two weeks, I have been sorting through your letters and organizing the unruly stacks into smaller more manageable stacks. The whole idea of re-opening these letters has left me in an amazingly emotional mood. I am thrilled to remember those many nights of sitting on the couch completely surrounded by paper and photos. I look forward to sharing this with the world. They have no idea what they're in for.
ONE CLARIFICATION:I have not, and I do not intend to release any information without contacting and gaining approval from each of you. I will not use your letters nor your artifacts without your consent. So- no worries if you know you wrote to me, but have not been contacted as of yet. I respect your privacy and will continue to do so.
Look for more updates as time passes.
4.11.2011
Here we are, almost ready to begin our Kickstarter campaign. We have been working feverishly on finalizing wording, arranging videos, creating various versions of everything and sending them to friends of the project to get their approval and feedback. This is, perhaps, the most important step we've taken yet. To see if there will be public interest in this most noble of purposes. To find YOU! Thank you for your continued interest in this terribly worthwhile cause. We are so glad to have you onboard.
4.19.2011
We will be going LIVE tonight!! Please take a moment to check out our link at: and you will have a chance to watch our video and learn about our project. We would appreciate your forwarding the information to your friends and family who might be interested in it!
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This is offically DAY 1! Watch the blog for daily updates and info as we move through our 40 days. Thank you and God Bless!