For the ninth year in a row, Operation Best Wishes has made sure those serving overseas wereable to see and hear from their loved ones.

“Since 2004, literally thousands have sat in front of ourcameras to connect with loved ones,” said Walt Laskos, founder ofOperation Best Wishes and principal of communications/PR/brandingfirm The Laskos Group.

“For me, it has been an honor to join with Arty Arteaga at Defense Credit Union Council, my OBW teamcolleagues Joe Keller and Kevin Mann, and all the credit union CEOsover the years who have hosted our program at their shops so thatwe can bring a smile to those who have given so very much for ourfreedom,” Laskos said.

The national program gives military families free access to amobile video recording studio where their 10-minute personalgreetings become animated holiday video greeting cards fordistribution over the Internet.

The video recording studio, complete with cameras, lights and atechnician, has the technology to superimpose families over suchbackgrounds as a decorated family room complete with stockings hungon the mantle of a cozy fireplace. Afterwards, family membersreceive a hard copy of the video message, as well as a link toaccess the archived recording via secured website.

According to Charles Crisler, assistant vice president of publicrelations at Albuquerque, N.M.-based Kirtland Federal Credit Union,one of the best features of the program has been the ability forthose deployed to view the greetings as many times as theylike.

“Before joining the credit union I was in the Air Force of 30years and I remember how much it meant when my family would send mesomething,” said Crisler. “I know there's Skype but when deployedyou're not necessarily at a location where there's a good Internetconnection and once the call's over it's done. But I know wheneverI got a DVD from home I'd love being able to watch it over and overagain.”

This year the national tour of Operation Best Wishes hascovered eight states.