While the first signs of autumn are upon us, it’s not too early to start thinking about holiday cards, letters and packages destined for service members and their families stationed in faraway lands. Nov. 13 is the deadline for sending holiday packages to troops stationed overseas using Parcel Post to all Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP codes. “The U.S. Postal Service is encouraging early deadlines to ensure packages reach their destination in time for the holidays,” said Fort Wayne, Ind., Postmaster Dave Kuehnert. All military mail, regardless of destination, is sent by domestic mail rate. International rates do not apply. One way senders can confirm delivery is by using Delivery Confirmation, available for most military destinations outside the United States. Delivery Confirmation provides customers with the date, ZIP code and time the package was delivered. This information can be accessed at www.usps.com.