Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day: Plans for ARMAD - 08

By Emery McClendon

As you may know Indiana now has over 3400 National Guard Troops deployed in the War on Terror. Just this past week an additional 175 received a call up to deployment also.

Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day is planning a rally, and show of support for our Troops, Veterans, and Military Retired on May 24, 2008 to be held at Georgetown Square in Fort Wayne. We are planning to have various Groups, including The St. Vincent Boy and Girl Scouts, Local Government Officials, The Renegade Band, and Gospel singers, including Buchanon Unity of New Castle, Indiana pay tribute to those that serve our country in the military. We have heard from our Governor, The Allen County Commissioners, and The Mayor of Fort Wayne. They will be sending or will be present to read Proclamations this year. We have also picked up several new sponsors, and media partners to help us with public awareness. U.S. 93.3 FM will be at the event to broadcast, and will have their bus on location. Public Access TV will be video tapping the event for Armed Forces TV. The viedo will be sent to the deployed areas for viewing by our Troops.

The State of Indiana will be sending Troops from the Indiana National Guard, The 122nd TFW of the indiana Air Guard will have soldiers, and various displays at the event including a flight simulator. We are also working with the 1st 293rd Indiana National Guard. Several companies have also offered the services of their employees to help us at the event.

Our military members and their families deserve to hear positive messages of support from home. We will gather during this event to let them know that our communitiy, and others around the country appreciate their service, and dedication.

Thank you very much for your support of our Troops, and Veterans with your continued coverage of ARMAD in the written media. We look forward to showing our community and Troops that we care, and that we have the support of our national leaders.

ARMAD will also be held in other communities around the country, and over Amateur Radio. As we receive information from these other locations we will add them to our web page. Several are already listed.

ARMAD, was featured in a news story by WANE TV this past September. That story won The CBS / ARRL Bill Leonard Award for Journalism Excellence. I also had the opportunity to visit The White House, Congessional Leaders; and several other of our nations other important places to promote ARMAD last year.

This year ARMAD marks it's fifth year, and we have worked hard to develop this event into a first class show of support for our local Troops, and the Military in general. Please consider a story again this year to help us show support to those that serve our nation as members of our Military.

Several other plans are being worked on to help this event mark our fifth year. We will update you as we develop our plans.

http://www.armad.net

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com