Jun 21, 2010 10:40 AM

Pizzas 4 Patriots, a non-profit organization, is teaming up with delivery and logistics company DHL Express and AT&T to send thousands of Edwardo’s Natural pizzas to US servicemen and women overseas in time for July 4—Independence Day 2010.

This Independence Day, US servicemen and women at bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Korea will get a taste of home—Chicago and New York style. More than 5,000 stuffed pizzas from Edwardo’s Natural Pizza in Chicago, along with hundreds of pizzas from New York Flying Pizza will leave the United States on June 26, in time for Independence Day celebrations at US military bases. DHL Express has donated its global shipping network for the delivery.

The mission to show appreciation and bring reminders of home to the men and women in uniform overseas was conceived by Ret MSgt Mark Evans of Elk Grove Village IL. In 2008, Evans’ 15-year-old son Kent asked if there was a way to deliver freshly frozen Chicago-style pizzas to servicemen and women stationed throughout Iraq in time for Independence Day celebrations. The initial effort required 2,000 pizzas and was well-received. Since the first effort, and with the support of DHL Express, Evans has been able to ship more than 45,000 pizzas to US military personnel overseas.

More than 5,000 pizzas, packaged in temperature-cooled containers, will be picked up at the Edwardo’s National Pizza restaurant June 23 at 10 am in Wheeling IL for a formal send-off. The pizzas, along with letters of support to the troops, will be transported from Chicago to DHL’s hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, where they will move onward to regional DHL hubs in the Middle East and Asia. DHL provides door-to-door, final-mile delivery for the entire distribution, working closely with the US military to ensure the pizzas are delivered fresh and ready to heat and serve.

Visit www.Pizzas4Patriots.com or www.edwardos.com for more information.