Posted on 03/30/2005 7:54:20 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen
Enid is hoping to be shining example of how communities across the nation can honor their military troops. Enid is hosting the first citywide rally connected to the “America Supports You” program initiated by the Department of Defense to pay tribute to American troops. It’s the first community to officially join the program.
Hundreds are expected to gather Thursday at Mark Price Arena for the Enid, America Supports You rally, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Allison Barber will be in attendance. Barber is responsible for Department of Defense communications to the men and women of the military and for community relations programs that link citizens to members of the armed forces.
The national “America Supports You” program spotlights what Americans are doing to honor the troops, and Enid’s community event is the first of its kind in conjunction with the program, organizers said.
“This is grassroots support at its finest,” said Mayor Ernie Currier. “Everyone looks for things they can do to support our troops, and this initiative offers many ways to do that. Enid is proud to host this event and launch this initiative.”
In addition to Barber’s appearance, the rally will include music, entertainment and messages from national, state and local officials. The national anthem will be sung by Micky Flynn, Randy Chick and Ryan Sutton of Bible Baptist Church. Coldwell Banker Realty III will be handing out American flags to rallygoers. Emerson Junior High School Jazz Band will play patriotic music.
The event is the brainchild of Greg Allen, president of Advance Food Co. He recently attended a meeting in Washington, D.C., in which Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz offered details on the “America Supports You” program.
Upon his return to Enid, Allen met with local officials to work on a program for Enid. Enid’s support program will kick off with Thursday’s rally. As part of the effort, the city will adopt two military units, the 71st Security Forces Squadron from Vance Air Force Base and the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment from Ft. Lewis, Wash., which currently is deployed in Mosul, Iraq.
The goal also is to recruit 20,000 Enid residents to join the effort by sending supportive e-mails, books, magazines, DVDs and other items to the members of these units. In addition, the town will join in a flag- swapping ceremony with the two units.
On July 4, the flags will be returned with signatures from community members in Enid and soldiers overseas pledging their support for American troops serving the world.
“We hope Enid can show the nation how a community of this or any size can rally and support the troops in new and impressive ways,” Allen said. “We hope for unprecedented support from the community.
The Department of Defense has established a Web site, www.americasupportsyou.mil, to allow Americans to access materials and ideas to show troop support. People can send e-mails from that site. Special dog tags are available for those wishing to show their support.
The rally will be broadcast live on 99.7 FM KNID and 960 AM KGWA. The rally will be taped and re-broadcast in Enid on PEGASYS cable Channel 12 at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The rally is being organized and supported by Advance Food, the city of Enid, Security National Bank and Making a Difference partners the Enid News & Eagle, Central National Bank and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Help is being provided by Vance Air Force Base, the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, Enid Public Schools and Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid.
Enid (OK) News & Eagle
March 31, 2005
Defense Secretary Praises Enid’s Effort To Support Troops
By Cindy Allen, Managing Editor
Enid has gotten the attention of some very important Pentagon officials, and in a good way.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rums-feld mentioned Enid’s rally and its adoption of two military units during his press briefing Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Organizers of tonight’s Enid, America Supports You rally are excited Rumsfeld has publicly recognized Enid as the first city in the nation to embrace the Department of Defense’s “America Supports You” initiative.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am,” said Mayor Ernie Currier. “Not only are we getting national attention, but it’s extremely positive national attention.”
“This Thursday, Enid, Okla., will become the first city in the nation to adopt an Army brigade and Air Force squadron through the America Supports You program,” Rumsfeld said. “These are but a few examples of the creativity, the resourcefulness and the compassion of the American people.”
Rumsfeld made the mention during his briefing rolling out the America Supports You program. He told the press about the www.americasupportsyou.mil Web site where people can get ideas about how to support their troops and also to send e-mails to the troops.
Advance Food Co. President Greg Allen received a heads-up on this program during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. He came back to Enid and gathered some other leaders, including Currier, to put together a local program of support.
Tonight’s rally is the kickoff to that program in which organizers hope at least 20,000 Enid residents become involved.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers also mentioned the Enid rally Tuesday. He commended Enid as the first community to sign up for the America Supports You program.
Myers said he received his initial pilot training at Vance and began his married life in a small apartment in Enid.
“I still remember the address,” he said in an interview with American Forces Press Service.
The general said he hopes other communities and individuals will follow Enid’s lead.
“It’s really important,” he said. “It’s a different type of war, this war on terrorism.”
All the national recognition has motivated people to get involved in the project, Currier said. He said he’s received phone calls from media and other individuals and companies who want to know more about this effort.
“People are wanting to get on board,” he said. “This is exceeding all my expectations.”
Enid (OK) News & Eagle
April 5, 2005
Rally Just The Start
Program requires us to continue to show our support for the troops
“Where liberty is, there is my country.” — Benjamin Franklin
The American military definitely is a symbol of liberty that should be celebrated. Enid has always understood this due to our community’s close ties to the military.
However, now the rest of the United States knows Enid’s commitment thanks to the publicity our community received last week for our city’s participation in a new project called America Supports You.
Our project is called Enid, America Supports You, and it kicked off last Thursday with a rally at Mark Price Arena. More than 1,000 people showed up to wave flags and cheer our military during the hour-long event.
Our community was the first to fully support the America Supports You program initiated by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon wanted our military men and women to know the American people stand with them.
Thanks to Advance Food Co. President Greg Allen, who brought the idea home to Enid and quickly helped organize the local rally, Enid got noticed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In his remarks to the press last week, Rumsfeld praised Enid for its efforts.
The Enid rally received local and state support, and also is being featured on the America Supports You Web site. There are pictures and a story about the Enid rally.
Of course, we’re flattered by the attention. It’s nice to see our community held up in a positive light, and this is what the rally and the Enid, America Supports You program have done for us. But, the basis for the rally isn’t just about making Enid look good — it’s about the troops.
It about saying “thank you” and expressing our gratitude for the sacrifices made by the troops and their families. It’s about prayers for our troops’ safe return. You don’t have to be in favor of or opposed to the war in Iraq to have these feelings about our troops. All you have to do is be an American.
The rally was only the beginning. Now, we need people to go to the www.americasupportsyou.mil Web site and send an e-mail to the troops. We need folks to make donations to the Enid Community Foundation so they can get care packages to the troops. We need people to continue supporting our troops and be a part of this program.
The News & Eagle will keep readers posted about how the project is going.
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