Tweets salute vets
May 26, 2012 (Menafn - Boston Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --There's now a digital way to honor wounded vets on Twitter. Hashtags4Heroes, a project of Hub-based Raytheon, allows users to "donate" their unused Twitter characters to help promote the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project and spread the word about injured heroes who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq with debilitating injuries.
The program, which auto-populates the unused characters in your tweets, is hoping for a big boost on Memorial Day, having already helped triple the number of re-tweets and mentions related to the Wounded Warriors Project on Twitter.
"As Americans take Memorial Day to be thankful for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, we hope they can find it in their hearts to also honor those who are coming back wounded after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Leslie Coleman, spokeswoman for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Since the program began this month, many high-profile Twitter users have taken notice, from recently retired Patriots left tackle Matt Light to "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Caroline Manzo.
"We've seen a tremendous response from all kinds of organizations and individuals," said Pam Ericson, spokeswoman for Raytheon. "The goal was to increase awareness of the Wounded Warriors Project, and that's certainly happened."
Hashtags4Heroes comes in the form of a plug-in for your web browser or an app for your Apple, Android or Blackberry device.
Using the plug-in or app, simply tweet as you regularly would, and it automatically fills in the rest of what remains in your 140-character limit with a message that promotes wounded warriors.
If you don't want to set your Twitter to auto-fill every message, you can go to Hashtags4Heroes.com and tweet directly from there when you want to use that feature.
Twitter users have until Thursday, when the project ends, to donate their unused tweet characters.
jvansack@bostonherald.com
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