Living
Program Announced for 3nf Annual 9-11 Freedom Walk
By Debbie Gregory, President and CEO, Military Connection
Sep 9, 2008 - 6:58:44 PM


Blackanthem Military News
SIMI VALLEY, CA. - "The Freedom Walks across America are a positive way to remember those Americans we lost on 9/11/2001, honor those who serve both past and present.  It is a day that we are all Americans, one nation under GOD instead of being Republicans, Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives.  We are united and fortunate to live in the best nation in the world that allows people freedom and stands up for others to have these precious rights that we should never ever take for granted".

We have an incredible program including:
 
Neil Burlingame - his brother Chip Burlingame was the Captain of American Airlines flight #77 that was crashed into the Pentagon
Neil Duncan - an amazing wounded warrior who lost both legs from an IED attack but has not allowed it to stop him, he is an ace skier, jogged with President Bush last month and works for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Colonel James Seaton - Commander of Marine base Camp Pendelton

WHAT:

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (www.reaganlibrary.com) is joining forces with MilitaryConnection.com to bring to our city the third annual Simi Valley Freedom Walk on Thursday, September 11th.   Please join us as we remember the victims of September 11th, and honor our troops who continue to fight for freedom.

PROGRAM:

4:15 p.m. Pre-program patriotic music; 1st Marine Division Band, United States Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton
5:00 p.m. Program begins, which includes:

  • Colonel James Seaton, Commanding Officer, United States Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton
  • Army Sergeant Neil Duncan who lost both of his legs in 2005 when an IED ripped through his humvee in Afghanistan
  • Brad Burlingame, whose brother, Captain Charles Burlingame III, lost his life as the pilot of American Airlines flight 77 when it was hijacked and flown into the U.S. Pentagon
  • F-18 Flyover
5:30 p.m. Walk begins – The 1.8 mile route will begin in the Reagan Library’s courtyard and will conclude at

Rancho Madera Community Park off of Wood Ranch Parkway. 

6:00 p.m. Walk concludes.  Light refreshments will be offered and Air National Guard Band of the Southwest will provide post-program musical entertainment at the park.  Complementary shuttle service will return the participants to their cars at the Library. 

To register, go to www.militaryconnection.com and click on “Simi Valley Freedom Walk”, or call 805-522-2977.  The first 1,000 people who register for the walk will receive a free “Freedom Walk” t-shirt and an American flag. 

Also, from September 1st through September 30th the Reagan Library will be collecting donations for U.S. Soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Library’s main lobby.  Items must be unwrapped and in original packaging, including: packets of trail mix, peanuts, gum, hard candy and beef jerky; snacks that are not heat sensitive and will not melt in hot temperatures; individual packets of lemonade or Crystal Light for water bottles; CDs and DVDs; used video games; AA batteries; stationery; and pre-paid phone cards.  Only miniature hygiene items will be accepted.

The Reagan Library and MilitaryConnection.com would like to thank American Airlines for their generous support of this event.  Other event sponsors include:

Air National Guard of the Southwest; Black Aces of VFA-41, Lemoore, CA; Larry Borovay of Simi Valley; The City of Simi Valley; CocaCola Enterprises; Command Performance; The Jelly Belly Candy Company; Rebecca Kogen; Naval Base Ventura County; Neptune Productions; Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District; The Red Cross of Ventura County; RoadRunner Shuttle; Starbucks of Simi Valley; The Flag Factory; USMC Camp Pendleton’s First Marine Division Band.

Where:

The courtyard of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA

About the America Supports You Freedom Walk

The America Supports You Freedom Walk was created in 2005 to establish a national tradition of remembrance of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, to renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country, and to honor our veterans, past and present.  For more information, visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.