As the daughter of a retired Marine Corps veteran, this is such a special time of year for my family and me — and the whole military community. On Friday, the United States Marine Corps will celebrate its 248th birthday, and on Saturday, our nation will honor all who have served our country on Veterans Day.

So if, like me, you are feeling a little extra patriotic this week, I hope you’ll take a moment to sign the official USMC birthday card! We set a goal to reach 24,800 signatures via email and text messages, and we’ve only got 48 hours to get there, so please: Add your name now to celebrate our heroes and show them how grateful you are for their service!

If you’re not part of a military family, imagining the massive sacrifices our heroes and their loved ones make daily can be challenging. Thousands of Marines are currently deployed in some of the world’s most dangerous places, risking their lives to keep us safe. And for every Marine, there’s a family back home missing them, worrying about them, and wondering when they’ll come home.

It takes a toll — and that’s why it’s so important for us back home to show our gratitude and appreciation ahead of important occasions like the Marine Corps’ birthday on Friday. So please, will you be one of the 24,800 patriotic Americans we need to sign the card?

I know signing a card might not seem like much, but I’ve seen firsthand how much it means to troops (like my dad!) when someone thanks them for their service. You can help remind them what and who they’re fighting for and keep them strong during their most challenging moments.

But I mean it when I say we don’t have much time, and we can’t reach this signature goal without your help: Please take just a moment to add your name and honor our courageous Marines ahead of their big day.

Thank you so much for supporting our Marines,

Maggie Cowart, USO