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WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 25, 2008) - More than 180
representatives of 122 troop-support groups gathered today at the
Pentagon to share information and insights about ways to boost
their efforts during the third annual America Supports You National
Summit.
Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Allison Barber, the program's
architect, opened the all-day session welcoming the participants
she credits with making America Supports You such a big success.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is slated to close the summit,
thanking the groups for their contributions.
The Defense Department launched the America Supports you program
in November 2004 to showcase support for the country's men and
women in uniform from the American public as well as the corporate
sector. More than three years later, it continues to expand,
directing people who want to do something to support the troops to
myriad initiatives already under way, and enabling those behind
these efforts to share ideas and encouragement.
Barber told the group she had no clue when the program first
began how big it would grow -- with 343 grassroots groups as well
as corporate members now participating --- or how powerful its
impact would be.
"What we didn't know is that we would create this amazing
network -- an amazing network for you to work together, and an
amazing network for our troops to get more support (and) for their
families back home to get the support they need ... because of what
you do," she said.
The Defense Department counts on America Supports You groups to
provide support to troops in ways it and the individual services
can't, Barber said.
"When people ask how they can support the troops," she said, "we
tell them, go to the America Supports You Web site and find our
groups who are making a real difference in the lives of our troops
and their families."
Although initially introduced as a campaign, America Supports
You has evolved into a permanent Defense Department program.
"What we have created is something that will never go away,"
Barber told the group. "America Supports You has become
institutionalized throughout the Department of Defense because it
is our connection to you -- citizen support for the men and women
in the military."
The agenda for this year's America Supports You summit, the
largest yet, was built around suggestions from participants in the
last summit. It's packed with breakout sessions designed to help
grassroots leaders maintain the momentum they've built, Barber
said.
Participants are learning how to motivate and manage volunteers,
find the resources needed to support their operations and get word
out through the media about their efforts. One of the breakout
sessions is focusing on compassion fatigue and ways to identify
symptoms of burnout and treat it before it takes hold.
"Home-front groups are our first line of support," Barber said.
"Through these sessions, we're providing some new tools to help
them provide that support. We want them to walk out of here
refreshed so they can go back home and continue what they're
doing.
"Our goal for this summit is threefold: to let them know how
much we appreciate what they're doing, and to help equip them and
encourage them to keep on doing it," she said.
Attendees said they welcomed the opportunity to meet other
America Supports You members and swap experiences and ideas.
Calvin K. Coolidge, program director for Freedom Alliance,
returned for his second summit to pick up more tips for his group,
which provides scholarships and grants to children whose parents
have been killed or permanently disabled in combat. Coolidge said
he benefitted from last year's meeting, where he learning new
processes and better ways to communicate and work with the
military.
"It's a real benefit to have the opportunity to meet new people
and talk about how they are doing things and how to do things
better to be more effective," he said.
Ann Johnson, founder of the Adopt a U.S. Soldier program, is
attending her first America Supports You summit with hopes of
learning how to improve her operations, which rely solely on
volunteers. Jeff and Patti Patton-Bade from the Soldiers' Angels
group traveled from Pasadena, Calif., for ideas for their program,
which sends care packages to deployed troops and supports fallen
heroes' families.
"We came here for the opportunity to network with everyone
else," Patti said. "If every one of our groups communicated with
each other, imagine the kind of support we could offer."
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail
themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You
program, which highlights home-front groups across the nation that
are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their
families. A listing of these groups and information about their
efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
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