Colorado — As the country prepares to honor its service members on Veterans Day this Friday, the U.S. Postal Service reminds customers with loved ones stationed overseas about its fast-approaching holiday mailing deadlines.

USPS is a proud employer of more than 70,000 veterans itself and understands the importance of sending packages to military and diplomatic members serving abroad, especially during the holidays.

In order to ensure timely delivery by Dec. 25, USPS recommends that cards and packages be sent to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than the mailing dates listed below.

* Priority Mail Express Military Service is available to select military/diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

USPS is expecting to process more than 10.1 million pounds of mail for APO/FPO/DPO destinations this holiday season.

USPS offers a special discounted postage rate of $20.95 on large Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes sent to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. That rate is $1.50 less than the same box sent to non-APO/FPO/DPO destinations. Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are available at no cost at Post Office locations and can also be ordered at USPS.com .

Also available online is a free USPS Military Care Kit based on the items most frequently requested by military families. The kit contains six assorted Flat Rate Boxes with an “America Supports You” message, Priority Mail tape and address labels, and six customs forms.

USPS guidelines for packing, addressing and shipping items to U.S. troops can be found here .

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies entirely on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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