Myers Thanks Millions of Americans for Showing Support to Troops

"I want to express my gratitude to the American people for sending their online thank-you note to America's service members, thanking them for defending our nation's freedoms," Myers said during a Pentagon media briefing. He said 3.7 million people to date had visited Defend America, www.defendamerica.mil, and signed its online thank-you note.

Defend America is the Defense Department's official Web site for news on the war on terrorism. Along with coverage of top national security leaders, the site also features up-to-date photographs, information on weapons and equipment, personality profiles and human-interest features.

The Web site debuted shortly after U.S. troops went into Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Its online thank-you note was posted in May 2002, Military Appreciation Month.

So many people have been signing the card lately that the total had climbed another 100,000 before Myers left the podium, Defend America editor Linda Kozaryn said.

"Now that people are finding out about the note, more are signing every hour," she said. "It gives them a way to show how strongly America supports her sons and daughters in uniform." She estimated the tally would exceed 4 million by today's end.

DoD officials are working out details of how to make the electronic "signatures" available for service members to see.