Posted on 11/19/2004 9:12:58 PM PST by Former Military Chick
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has a message for its troops serving in war zones: America Supports You.
That’s the name of a new campaign, introduced Friday at the Pentagon by Charlie Abell, principal deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
Abell said the program is designed so that the Department of Defense can “realize what’s going on and to be able to tell our soldiers and their families that we support you.”
The effort is two-pronged, according to Allison Barber, special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, internal communication/public liaison.
“We’re going to go to Americans and say, ‘Join our Web site. Tell us what you’re doing to support the troops.’ The second part is we’re going to take the info to the troops.
“We have a myriad of ways to talk to the troops, to provide information, and we’re going to use them all,” Abell said.
Barber said she also would be attending a taping of Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show that will have a segment dedicated to the program, and said the DOD is aggressively pursuing other high-profile shows, such as “Live with Regis and Kelly” and the “Late Show with David Letterman.”
Barber said that during visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, Defense officials were hearing servicemembers ask about the sentiments back home.
“Do Americans still support us?” she said the troops were asking. “And of course the answer is yes. You and I see it here, the yellow ribbons and all the terrific things folks are doing, but the guys overseas don’t see it. We have a communications gap.”
The Web site, http://americasupportsyou.mil/, will be a place where Americans can “join the team,” Barber said.
A text block asks you what you’ve done to support the troops, and when you send the information, it gives you the opportunity to link to Stars and Stripes’ Web site, where you can be shipped an “America Supports You” dog tag by providing a shipping address.
There’s also a space for Americans to send messages to the troops. One such message was on the new site Friday:
“Despite what you hear or read in the media back home, America thanks you for defending our way of life. We support you and may God bless you, keep you safe and return you home soon,” wrote “Jeff” from San Antonio.
Barber cited America’s flagging support as the Vietnam War continued as one reason for the campaign.
“In the Sixties, we did not do a good job of separating the war from the warrior. As the war grew unpopular, people started taking it out on the GI,” she said.
Abell reiterated that point when asked if Americans can support the troops without supporting the war.
“I think America can do this easily. If you don’t support the war philosophically, you can still support the troops.”
Lisa Burgess / S&S
Shauna Fleming, a 16 year-old from Orange, Calif., wears the new "America Supports You" dog tag. Fleming and school friends have collected more than one million letters and e-mails with messages of support and sent them to troops all over the world.
Lisa Burgess / S&S
USO President Edward Powell Jr., left, talks with Charles Abell, principal Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, after Friday's Pentagon rollout of the new "America Supports You" program.
I'm glad they are trying to circumvent Petah and Blather. They need to do even more--go local. Bush got positive media coverage only when he traveled and local stations covered his visits. The only positive stories from Iraq are from local news outlets covering local heroes.
ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN are the enemy.
Why these shows - weren't they working against President Bush's re-election
Because a lot of people watch them.
Ping. And you might have already been pinged to this one, but I can't tell due to FR's annoying habit of only showing the first few names on a ping list on posts. Guess I'll just go eat worms now (they're not bad with garlic salt and catsup).
BUMP!
I support our men and women in uniform with my words, my actions, my heart, and when I can, my wallet. I want to rejoin their ranks but there are many obstacles to a 50 yearold USAF vet from the cold war getting back in. I am driving recruiters from the USAF and Army crazy. I will not give up. I will pump gas at the motor pool if it helps or train for combat. I am fit and willing!
BUMP to your tagline!!
Hey IA. Just had a few minutes. Chores to do then football to watch. Catch you later.
Have fun.
You too dude.
bttt
Bumpity, bump!
Thanks for the ping Meek, this is a great idea!
bump! :^D
If everyone who has a magnetic yellow ribbon stuck to their cars would really SUPPORT our troops, it would be so excellent. Support is more than magnetic ribbons. You have to actually DO something. Packing a big box of stuff and waiting to find out if your guy got it is a very exciting experience. You just feel so inadequate no matter what you send. You know it's appreciated but in contrast to what the members of our wonderful military are doing for us, packing up food and hygiene items is a really easy safe thing to do and can never begin to really THANK THEM.
I heart our soldiers!
I just sent out a big box today. I enjoyed shopping for my "adopted" soldier. It's nice to be able to do a little something for them- they sacrifice so much for us. It really put me in the Christmas holiday mood too :-)
Going to check out the new Pentagon site now.
God bless you two. Thanks so much! :^D
Secondly, Ellen DeGeneres’?
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