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NEWS - ARCHIVE
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Staff Intern: Lisa Pessin
Wendy Levy, Junior Beta Sponsor for McConnell Middle School,
and Karishma Dayani, a member of the club, grab goodies to be
included in care packages assembled by the student on Friday
to be sent to troops serving overseas. |
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Kiley Cash writes a letter to a soldier overseas to include
in her care package as Madalyn Burke packs up her box of
goodies. |
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12/6/2008
12:01:00 AM
McConnell Middle sends holiday care packages
By Heather Darenberg
Staff Writer
LOGANVILLE - It's a holiday tradition at McConnell Middle School.
Members of the Junior Beta Club gathered in the cafeteria before
school Friday to pack food, toiletries, socks, books and video
games into boxes bound for two Special Forces units, a Navy SEAL
unit and Stryker brigade.
"They've done so much for us, and we're just trying to give back
to them," said eighth-grader Travis Padgett, the club's
president.
Also included in the boxes were letters of appreciation from the
students.
"We were wishing them a happy holiday season and thanking them
(for their service) because they're not with their families
during the holidays," eighth-grader Blakelee Bartik said.
"We want them to know kids back home are appreciating what they
do and send their love and care," eighth-grader Katee Blair said.
About 90 club members prepared 110 boxes for the deployed troops,
said science teacher Brian Howe, the club's head faculty sponsor.
Operation One Voice helped provide troops' contact information.
McConnell Middle principal Paula Everett-Truppi said she's proud
of the work performed by Beta Club members.
"It helps the kids to remember what the season is all about,"
Everett-Truppi said.
Everett-Truppi said it's a "reality of the military" for troops
to be away from home during the holidays - and it's a reality
with which her family is familiar. Her sons, Army Reserve Staff
Sgt. Seth Damann and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Micah Damann, are
deployed and serving in Iraq and Kuwait, respectively.
"My younger son (24-year-old Micah) - this is his fourth
deployment," Everett-Truppi said. "He has never been home for
Christmas since his (3-year-old) daughter was born."
Micah and his 28-year-old brother will be receiving care packages
from the school, Everett-Truppi said.
"I couldn't be any prouder of my kids for the decisions they've
made," she said.
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POSTED March 8, 2009 12:21 a.m.
Honor Our Fallen Heroes By Running
Race set to raise funds, support for service families
By Katie Dunn
Gainesville Times regional staff
Fallen
Heroes of Georgia Fun Run
HOSCHTON —
Since fighting began in Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 5,000 U.S.
troops have lost their lives, 144 from Georgia.
These
soldiers’ hometowns ranged from Winder to Ellijay to Valdosta, their
ages from 19 to 57. Yet one thing they had in common was that each
made the ultimate sacrifice to protect this country.
In honor of
their sacrifice, Hall County fireman Steve Durling has organized the
inaugural Fallen Heroes of Georgia run, set for March 28 at the
Reunion Golf Community Subdivision in Hoschton.
The race will
include one-, three- and six-mile runs, with the six-miler a 2010
Peachtree Road Race qualifier.
The
subdivision’s homeowners association and Operation One Voice are
sponsoring the event.
Carrie
Neville, Reunion’s activities director, said the subdivision agreed
to hold the race because it was for "such a great cause."
Operation One
Voice, a nonprofit organization made of police, firefighters and
community leaders, helps raise money and awareness for families of
wounded or fallen special operation forces, according to its Web
site.
Special
Operation Forces include the U.S. Army Special Operations Command,
Naval Special Warfare Command, Air Force Special Operations Command,
Marine Force Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operation
Command.
Money
generated from the upcoming race will go to help soldiers’ families.
"The biggest
thing we do is work with special operations command’s care
coalition," said Durling, a volunteer with the organization.
This includes
helping families pay for their children’s education, installing a
wheelchair ramp or buying a bicycle for an injured soldier. The group
buys about 15 bikes annually for servicemen and servicewomen,
according to Durling.
"It’s a
quality of life type of thing where they might have enjoyed riding
bikes and they (now) have a prosthesis," he said.
The bike
helps with the soldiers’ healing process, Durling said. "It’s a big
mental thing for them. And it helps them get back on their feet
again."
Signs also
will line the race course listing the name, rank, military branch,
hometown, age and date of death for the 144 Georgia troops killed in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Family members of some of these service
personnel will stand with their loved one’s sign during the race,
Durling says.
"What these
folks go through ... it’s not just the fallen soldiers, it’s the
families that go through so much," he said.
Several
military units and members of the Patriot Guard of Georgia will also
attend the event. The motorcycle organization attends funerals of
fallen soldiers to show respect for the soldiers, their families and
communities and to protect the families from protesters, according to
its Web site.
Reunion will
have free food and drinks and will celebrate the opening of its new
sales center.
Durling said
he hopes the race will help participants better appreciate the
sacrifice the country’s military servicemen and servicewomen make to
protect their country every day.
"I think
people should have the opportunity to see that your day is not bad if
your iPod is not working or you’re stuck in traffic," he said.
"You’ve got to put things into perspective, and I think this may be a
good way to do it."
Participants
will receive a T-shirt listing the names and ranks of each of the
fallen soldiers. Awards will be given to the overall female and male
winners and the top three female and male winners in each age group.
Medals or ribbons will be given to the first 100 finishers in the fun
run who are 12 or younger.
For more
information on the race or Operation One Voice, call Steve Durling at
678-794-6135 or e-mail stephendurling@yahoo.com.
Click On Picture To Enlarge
Pictured: Left to Right: Corporal Liz
Strickland, Rob Mikell (Governor's Office of Highway Safety),
Randy Dennis (AGA-Treasurer), Bob Griffin (AGA President) and
Lieutenant Bill Stevens. |
The Association of
Government Accountants presented a check to members of
Operation One Voice, a Duluth based program, which supports
children of fallen Special Operations Forces. AGA held its
annual Charity Golf Tournament on June 9, 2006 at Fort
McPherson raising $1411.02 which was donated to Operation One
Voice.
Lt. Stevens stated that "we are honored that the
Association of Government Accountants have chosen Operation
One Voice as the recipients of their tournament. Currently,
Georgia has thirty-eight children that have lost a parent
serving in the Special Operations Community." |
Saturday's Hall County Forces Run couldn't have been more
patriotic.
It was held on Armed Forces Day and included runners from Hall
County Fire Services and Rangers with the 802nd Ordnance in
Gainesville. The runners were greeted by a huge American flag that
hovered over Jesse Jewell Parkway as they came down the final leg
of the 92-mile run, which the runners ran in segments from 17 fire
stations throughout the county.
VIEW ALL THE LATEST OPERATON ONE VOICE PROCLAMATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS BELOW:
GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE/STATE OF GEORGIA
CITY OF ALBANY, GEORGIA
GEORGIA STATE SENATE
CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue recently honored the volunteers of Operation One Voice by signing a special proclamation honoring the 2006 Special Operations Forces Run. Pictured are Captain David Dusik of the Gwinett County Fire and Emergency Services, Lieutenant Bill Stevens of the Duluth Police Department, Governor Sonny Perdue, Carolyn Salvador of Discovery Point Early Learning Center, and Rob Mikell (and son, Jack) of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
On March 24, 2006, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce held their first annual Public Safety Awards at the Gwinnett Place Mariott. Lieutenant Bill Stevens of Operation One Voice was named the Public Service Person of the Year for his work with grant writing ($345,000 in FY 2005), Operation Drive Smart (a statewide highway safety program), and Operation One Voice and the Special Operations Forces Run. Pictured are Jamie and Bill Stevens.
Grand Finale from Duluth, Ga to Tampa. FL, November 2005...
The 2006 year has begun and we are getting started with this years fund raising events. We will be having a Corvette Ride, Golf Tournament, 5K run,a Motorcycle Ride and our Grand Finale to raise educational funds for the children of our fallen soldiers. If you would like to volunteer with one or all of these events, please, contact us. You can go to our Contact Us page to find our individual numbers and email addresses.
GA Promotions has designed and produced all of Operation One Voice Local Event T-Shirts and the Board of Directors shirts...
The Grand Finale is five days long so, hotel rooms were in need. As we spent the 2005 year raising funds for the children of our fallen soldiers, we knew rooms could be costly and minus our ending amount. Holiday Inn has graciously answered our call...
Operation One Voice would like to invite you to share in the Grand Finale, a 600+ mile run honoring our Special Operations Forces. During the past year Duluth Police, Gwinnett county Fire Services and Local Citizens have joined together to raise funds for the children of our fallen Special Operations soldiers. You are invited ...
Gunny Mile 5k
The 2nd annual Patiot's Day Run on September 11, 2005 brought out local supporters and runners. Thanks to those that helped and participated in the 5k we are closer to our goal in raising awareness and funds.
Saint David's Texas Hold'em
On September 28, 2005, Saint David's Community Church held a Texas Hold 'em fundraiser. The event raised $800.00 for Operation One Voice.
Corvette Ride: HUGE Success
The August 20th Atlanta to Ft. Benning Corvette Ride was a big success. A total of 112 cars registered. The ride started in Alpharetta at the local Sports Bar, Jeffrey's and ended after a great tour of the museum, lunch and drive through the Ft. Benning base. We want to give thanks to all those that participated, volunteered and gave a donation.
Primerica Financial Service Helps OOV
Primerica Financial Service joins police & firefighter's supporting the children of fallen SOF
Alpharetta- Cinco Mexican Restaurant Goes the Extra Mile
Mike Brosius, Luis Ramirez and Kim Boucher raise $2,000 to support Operation One Voice
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