NEWS RELEASE
Cities Nationwide Plan America Supports You Freedom Walks to Commemorate Victims of 9/11
Contact:
Michelle Shortencarrier
202-615-7152 / 703-401-1862
michelle@asyfreedomwalk.com
Washington, D.C., to Host Second Annual FREEDOM WALK
Washington, D.C. – Inspired by the America Supports You Freedom Walk in Washington, D.C. last year, cities across the nation, both large and small, are planning to hold their own Freedom Walks to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the tragic events in New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon.
The America Supports You Freedom Walks will reflect on the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and will honor all veterans, both past and present.
The second annual Freedom Walk in Washington, D.C. takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. The walk will start on the National Mall and proceed to the Pentagon ending near the crash site and the site of the future Pentagon Memorial.
Individuals and organizations nationwide are also working hand-in-hand with public and private entities to establish the Freedom Walk as a new tradition of patriotic support.
In Sebring, Ohio, 9-year-old Colton Lockner is organizing a Freedom Walk for the town’s nearly 5,000 residents. Operation Homefront, a San Antonio-based non-profit dedicated to providing assistance to military families, is overseeing Freedom Walks in a number of cities nationwide, and Beacon of Hope, an Aurora, Colo.-based support program connecting civilians with members serving in the military, is planning a walk with tribute performances. Chicago has pledged its support to launch the city's first Freedom Walk, and Mayors Tammy Moore of Belleview, Fla. and Ernie Currier of Enid, Okla. are among the growing number of city officials creating new Freedom Walk traditions in their hometowns.
Cities currently planning Freedom Walks include Peoria, Ariz., Yuma, Ariz., Travis AFB, Calif., Aurora, Colo., Belleview, Fla., Deltona, Fla., Ocala, Fla., Crawfordsville, Ind., Dearborn, Mich., Bellevue, Neb., Grand Forks, N.D., Oklahoma City, Okla., Plano, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, and the cities of Chesapeake, Poquoson, Hampton, Norfolk, and Portsmouth in Virginia.
The first AmericaSupports You Freedom Walk, held last year in the nation’s capital, brought together more than 15,000 walkers including family members of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, members of Congress, administration officials, federal employees, corporate representatives, civic organizations and citizens from across the country.
About America Supports You
America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program of the Department of Defense that helps showcase Americans’ support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its launch in November of 2004, the America Supports You program has welcomed over 225 grassroots organizations and more than 25 corporations to its team. Many America Supports You team members support the troops through letter writing, assembling care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families or sending an e-mail or kind gesture. To learn more about how you can support military personnel, please visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
Media:
To arrange an interview with an America Supports You FREEDOM WALK spokesperson or for more information about the nationwide initiative, please contact Michelle Shortencarrier at 202-615-7152, or 703-401-1862 or e-mail michelle@asyfreedomwalk.com.