April 8, 2008 marks the introduction of a new coffee to Starbucks stores everywhere. The Pike Place Roast and its media attention have brought to light an email that circles inboxes annually. The Military Families site has researched the truth behind the article, and would like to spread the word that it is entirely false. The letter will not be posted here due to third party copyright issues, but you can read the email as well as other related excerpts in the Related Links section at the bottom of this article.

The email spoken of, written by a Sergeant Howard C. Wright of the Marine Corps, was spread with no knowledge of the true event. Sgt. Wright had not been involved in the original issue, and had heard only a second hand recount of the story. The story said that a military unit had asked for donations from Starbucks. The unit was supposedly not only denied a donation, but was told the company had no support for the military or anyone involved with overseas operations. Due to the email and Starbucks' reaction to the false information, Sgt. Wright was contacted by the company and offered an explanation. He has since issued an apology letter. Starbucks also put out a statement to explain their military support. An excerpt from that statement can also be read in the Related Links.

Military Families has been witness to the support Starbucks employees have for the military. I wish to encourage everyone to visit the coffee giant and request to purchase a pound of coffee for the troops. Many Starbucks districts have a troop support program and will be glad to help out! One district in the San Diego area collects pounds on an almost monthly basis to send overseas. When presented with a coffee sales competition, the same store gathered together to sell as many pounds as possible that would then be shipped to a unit of Marines stationed in Iraq. Notes in the Related Links section below show numerous other ways that stores across the United States have collected and donated to the military.

Please visit the Related Links section for more information on the truth of this email. Also, upon receiving this email in your inbox, do the military and Starbucks' reputation a favor and press delete.