Nov. 28 is the deadline for friends and families to record personal holiday greetings for their soldiers abroad.

Stars and Stripes, the Department of Defense-authorized news outlet is providing free space for family and friends’ messages and photos in its print paper and online editions.

It is the paper’s ongoing tradition to facilitate communication between military personnel and their loved ones, especially in the holiday months when homesickness can be an issue for those deployed abroad.

Stars and Stripes provides news specific to active-duty, deployed families and government contract workers.

The paper brings a small taste of home to those abroad in Belgium, England, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Korean, Spain, and Turkey. Those in combat zones can read about hometown sports, enjoy comics, or do a daily crossword puzzle.

The Mideast paper is distributed at no charge to forces stationed in war zones.

Messages which make the Nov. 28 deadline will appear on Dec. 17. The sender may choose to have their greeting appear in the Europe, Mideast, or Pacific edition.

Any holiday message received after the deadline will appear online only.

Submit a free greeting at the Stars and Stripes website at http://holidaymessages.stripes.osd.mil/