Posted on 07/06/2004 8:33:29 PM PDT by FrogMom
The U.S. Army, with the assistance of Word Records recording artist Mark Schultz, is launching a new program, dubbed “Be Safe – Make It Home,” targeted at servicemen and women. The program, launched on June 7, educates soldiers about potential hazards, most notably from operating motor vehicles, and informs the general public about the need to support servicemen to “Be Safe.”
Schultz’s song “Letters From War” is the centerpiece of the awareness campaign. Schultz and the Army are producing a music video, training video and PSAs, all featuring the song, that is being used to educate soldiers and the general public of the Army’s high-rate of accidental fatalities.
“Letters From War,” from Schultz’s current album “Stories & Songs,” deals with a soldier returning home safely from war. While the song was inspired by the diaries his great grandmother kept when three of her sons fought in World War II, the song’s message is as relevant today as it would have been 60 years ago. “Letters From War” has touched the heart strings of the country and is currently No. 6 on the Christian Adult Contemporary chart.
“Statistically, this has been a rough year for Army accident casualties,” said Brigadier General Joseph Smith, Director of Army Safety. “In an attempt to reverse this trend, the Secretary of the Army initiated the “Be Safe” campaign to educate soldiers, with the end of result of keeping them alive and well. We want our troops to be safe and make it home when participating in everyday activities that can lead to accidents such as driving, swimming and biking.”
Since the beginning of the year, the Army has experienced 169 accident- related fatalities, 39 percent of which occurred in privately owned vehicles. Combine that figure with the almost 26 percent who are killed in Army motor vehicles and Army combat vehicles, and vehicular accidents account for 65 percent of accident-related fatalities. The remaining 35 percent of fatalities consist of fire, personal injury and aviation accidents.
A key element in the campaign is a newly created safety video that will be shown to all troops. The “Letters From War” video and other materials will also be available to Department of the Army Civilians, defense contractors and family members.
“I am very much honored to team with the U.S. Army in this campaign to save soldiers’ lives,” said Schultz. “I am thrilled to do anything I can to show my total support for our troops and to help keep them safe both abroad and at home.”
For more information, visit the Army’s Safety Center Web site at https://safety.army.mil/home.html. For more information on Mark Schultz, visit www.markschultzmusic.com.
Our Army at war – Be safe! – Make it home.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.