Thumbing Up Support For The Troops

Here’s an easy way to spread some New Year’s cheer this year:

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a non-partisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is taking part in “Operation New Year’s Eve,” a holiday campaign that will let Americans send text messages in support of U.S. service members serving overseas to a sign in Manhattan’s Times Square.

Supporters can send text messages for the troops to 94444. All messages will be collected by Operation New Year’s Eve and broadcast on a digital LED screen at the top of 4 Times Square, the tallest building in Times Square. More than a million Americans are expected to gather in Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebration, with an additional 50 million people watching at home. The messages will be broadcast worldwide via a live video stream at www.operationnewyearseve.org. Sign Lab Media and The Durst Organization are sponsoring Operation New Years Eve in association with Fountainhead.com.

Rob MacMillan, CEO of Sign Lab Media and a former reservist, is producing the event. “This is a profoundly simple yet powerful way for all Americans to connect with the men and women overseas,” he said.