I will never forget… I remember… so I’m inviting you to come…
Walk with us… Celebrate Freedom… and Remember… Together.
The America Supports You Freedom Walk is a national tradition that calls on people to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, 2001, remember those who responded, honor our veterans past and present, and renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country. Each year the number of walks held throughout the nation grows, as more people are moved to participate.
The tradition was born when Pentagon employees, seeking a way to honor the victims of the attack on the Pentagon and their families, and pay tribute to those who responded to that attack as well as those who serve, organized a walk from the Pentagon to the National Mall. Nearly 15,000 people took part. Now, America Supports You Freedom Walks are taking place in communities across the nation. Last year 255 communities participated, and every state was represented, along with eight nations overseas.
The National Freedom Walk
The tradition began with a walk in Washington DC, and the National ASY Freedom Walk continues. Now in its fourth year, the National ASY Freedom Walk draws people not only from the Washington metropolitan region, but from throughout the nation. Each person who walks has his own special reason and his own interesting story to tell. If you have a story you’d like to share, please let us know!
This year, on Sunday, September 7, the fourth-annual America Supports You National Freedom Walk will take place in Washington, DC. The National ASY Freedom Walk is free of charge and open to the public. You must register in advance to participate. Registration is easy and can be done online. But walking is not the only way you can support the cause. We’re looking for volunteers to check registration, hand out t-shirts, support our walkers, and lend assistance to those in need. Find out more about what YOU can do to be a part of the America Supports You Freedom Walk.
LOCAL WALKS
America Supports You Freedom Walks come in many different shapes and sizes. Some feature governors and mayors, others have veterans and their families,and still others are organized and run by students and teachers. What they all have in common is people who care. If you are interested in participating in or establishing a walk in your community, this is the place for you.
The goal for 2008 is to have several America Supports You Freedom Walks in every state. The Freedom Walks will not be a platform to discuss the policy of the war, but will be a platform to reflect on the sacrifices of September 11, renew our commitment to freedom and to express our appreciation for the men and women who volunteer to serve in the military. This tradition ensures that America will never forget September 11th.
Come walk with us… Let us Remember… and Let Us Celebrate FREEDOM!
hey there.. its TechMama here (aka Tammy )
Over on the Parents’ Zone Forums, MyMarine aka David started a thread of getting together to chat,etc. If you haven’t visited our forums yet, please do so! You will need to register first if you’re not already. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to contact me at tammy@newmediava.com
I think a chat is a great idea!! It’s quite funny that chatting was mentioned because I’ve been wanting to get something like that put together. Thanks for the nudge to get it done! : )
Now what would you like to see??
Would you all prefer a chat room type of thing (typed or you can speak if you have a mic hooked up to your computer) or would you prefer a call in phone line type of thing? I can make it a combination of both. You let us know what you need! I can make happen relatively easy . I of course I would be available for any necessary tech support. : )
What would work best with everyone’s schedules? Daytime? Nighttime? Day of the week?
Thanks,
Tammy aka PZ’s TechMama
PS Spouse Buzz Live is coming to Virginia Beach/Norfolk area Saturday September 6th! Come out and meet LAW & TechMama. You can find out more information at Spouse Buzz Live Of course, at least one of us will be blogging about it live! : )
So it’s official. (Actually it was official a week ago, but I think I needed some time to consider what that meant.) My daughter, Sevilla, has been selected to deploy for 365 days. I’m not going to say where she’s going or what she’ll be doing, since I have no idea what is (or isn’t) covered by OPSEC (operational security, for those of you who don’t speak military acronyms). She won’t deploy for a while, so I have some time to get used to the idea; but she will deploy.
Now being who I am, I’ve already started looking at the practical impacts of her deployment. Sevilla’s a single parent, so obviously the biggest concern was her daughter. Of course, we will be ready, willing, and able to look after the Princess while her mom is serving her country. It won’t be much of a change, since the Princess lives with us anyway. She’ll attend the same school. She’ll sleep in the same bed. She’ll enhance the lives of her Grandparents; just like she does now. The only difference will be that her mom will be away for a while. I’ve already started to make plans on how to minimize the impact to the Princess. Sevilla and I have already considered a blog for the Princess (restricted to family and friends) as a way for her to post her thoughts and pictures and “stuff” in order to communicate with her mom. I also know that communication these days is quite different from when I was a kid and my dad had to rely on flimsy airmail paper and reel-to-reel tapes to communicate with his family. With the internet, email, webcams, and telephones, it should be fairly easy for Sevilla to keep in touch with the Princess. I also know, though, that it’s not the same and that my husband and I will have to try to fill a place in the Princess’ life that can be filled by only her mother. From the practical side, it will be tough; but thousands of kids, mothers, and grandparents have already dealt with a deployed parent and survived. We will, too.
Being who I am, I’m having a lot more trouble dealing with the “inside” impact. I’m not sure why. After all, my husband and my son have already deployed, and I was able to deal with their deployment (eventually). I know that I am proud of her and her choice to serve. I know that I think she’s doing the right thing for the right reasons. I know that I envy her the chance to do something that both of us consider very important. What I don’t know is how I really “feel” about it. For some reason, I seem to have decided not to feel. I don’t know why. Perhaps it is because there is still some time before she actually leaves. Perhaps it is because I know it will be difficult for me. All I know is that I don’t want to “feel” anything about Sevilla deploying to a dangerous place until I have to. Is it a defense mechanism? Maybe. I just know that when I do allow myself to “feel,” those feelings will be extremely complex and will cover a wide-range of emotions. In the meantime, I’ll continue to plan for the practical “outside” aspects of Sevilla’s deployment and try to let the “inside” aspects sort themselves out. I’ve was able to do it when I watched my son go off to war. I can do it again as I prepare for my daughter to do the same.
Kathy – a reader of the site, a Mom of a soldier and an educator – sent us this. Some very good information for deploying Guardsmen. Thank you so much!
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As a new school year looms in the very near future, I think about those students whose educational journey may be interrupted…. The men and women of the National Guard. Although they understand from the start that their service and commitment is first and foremost to serve our country in time of need, this poses a distinct situation for those who are in the midst of their college education. As a soldier’s mom and an educator, I know without a doubt that knowledge is power. Here are some thoughts on this matter…
Orders for deployment come without concern for convenience. A student may find out that they will have to report for active duty in the middle of their course work. What happens then? First and foremost, student soldiers should know the institutional policy regarding military deployment. No student will be penalized for leaving the semester early for military duty, BUT they need to know if they will receive a grade for the work completed so far or merely a “W” on their transcript. Withdrawing from a course simply means that the student was granted the option to leave without penalty. Some institutions also add a “P” (for passing) or “F” (for failing) along with the W. Withdrawal simply means that the students overall grade point average (GPA) is not affected by the withdrawal. However, it would be good for the deploying soldier/student to know if they have to repeat the part of the course they’ve already completed, or if they will receive a grade to that point – the other option that some institutions grant. Again, knowing this policy ahead of time may make the decision to start the semester a bit easier. Good communication with the academic advisor, dean of students or director of the discipline is essential when deployment orders are received. Having written policy or documentation if exceptions are granted is also necessary for when the soldier returns to school. It is not enough to be told “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you when you get back”. People move on and nothing stays the same during deployment, so it is wise to ask for documentation of stop-out policies or re-admission policies, especially of professional programs with criteria for acceptance (health care programs – nursing, med school; law school, etc.).
Once the soldier/student returns to school, working with the institution’s VA officer becomes extremely important. Paperwork and forms must be filled out accurately so the soldier receives the full benefit he/she deserves. There is a difference in monthly benefits depending on which Montgomery Bill option is being applied for…..considerable differences. At some point, it is even wise to double check with the state VA educational officer - not just the local county officer, for assistance to make sure the soldier is applying to the appropriate program. Once paperwork is filed incorrectly, it takes an inordinate amount of time to correct the problem – meanwhile, the soldier is without benefits. Working with the guard unit’s readiness officer is also a good idea. In the past, I’ve also enlisted the help of the state representative of the Family Readiness Office. The most important point to pass along is don’t be satisfied with an attitude of “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know”……there are people who do know and can help, so seek them out.
That is only the business part of returning to school after deployment. A soldier who leaves campus for 2 semesters (or longer) also loses his/her spot among the relationships they’ve built to that point. If they’re an athlete, they come home to a different team; if a member of a cohort that is accepted into the major, now they are part of a different cohort. No soldier is penalized for being gone, but no one comes back to the same student group, social group or sometimes, even the same faculty and staff. This is another adjustment to the circumstances they are already making in their return to civilian life. Support during this time is critical. Awareness and acknowledgement of the soldier/student’s contribution to OIE or OEF should not be underestimated or undervalued.
These are just some points of interest that I wanted to pass along for the next soldier who is deploying during their college years. It is a situation that calls for attention to detail and information about benefits to assure ease in transition back to college life, as well as an understanding of the specific adjustments that this student is making in the name of freedom.
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