Tribute is not enough
Submitted by Wes Clark on May 22, 2009 - 10:59am.
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Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, many of us take time to recognize the sacrifices of those men and women who have served in uniform.
But around the country, these solemn holidays often end up meaning little more than a chance to buy things on sale.
Yesterday I did an event with Jill Biden for a non-partisan, non-profit group called Beyond Tribute that's launching a campaign this Memorial Day to convince stores to donate a portion of their holiday promotion proceeds to medical treatment and family support for veterans. By Veterans Day, we hope to be able to raise significant money for veterans in need from the very businesses that usually capitalize on these solemn holidays.
But before businesses will sign on, they need to see that people are committed to truly honoring, and actually helping, former service members.
Sign the Memorial Day pledge to shop at Beyond Tribute business partners today and together we can do a lot of good for some people who really need it.
When I was on active duty as a four-star general in the U.S. Army, the soldiers I commanded were serving me, and they were serving the President.
But above all, they were serving America -- all of us.
So we all owe them a debt of gratitude, especially the troops who have sacrificed their health and well-being in the line of duty.
By signing the pledge to shop at Beyond Tribute businesses during the veterans national holidays, you're doing more than making your own personal commitment to help. You're also showing businesses that their customers will reward them if they do the right thing.
Anyone who has served, or has a loved one who's served, knows how important this help is.
That's why people like Walter Cronkite, philanthropist Jerome Kohlberg, and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City's Samantha) have joined Beyond Tribute with me and pledged to do their shopping at participating businesses, too.
Join us in signing the pledge to do your Veterans Day shopping at Beyond Tribute businesses, then ask your friends and family to sign the pledge, too.
The troops we honor are real people, many of whom have very real injuries. They and their families need our help to get back on their feet. This is something we can all do that will really help them.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gen-wesley-clark/tribute-is-not-enough_b_206583.html
Posted: May 22, 2009 01:25 PM
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"Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, many of us take time to recognize the sacrifices of those men and women who have served in uniform..."
I see the pledge and love the concept - all looks good. But the pledge to shop at the companies who are in support of Beyond Tribute doesn't seem to include a list of the outlets and business partners who are on board?
Am I missing the link? Or maybe this is just an early stage pledge and they just aren't signed on yet?
Not doing any real "shopping" per se these days... but if staple products and stores (groceries, gas, CostCo etc) are included in the list, I can participate.
Please advise if anyone knows where the merchant's participant list is.....Thanks!
And THANK YOU General Clark for always calling our attention to worthy causes and forever looking after the troops and their welfare. Much appreciation to you.
Right now, this is a launch effort using Mem Day as an organizing event. Six Flags has joined and we're working to get more businesses on board.
In Illinois -- and probably other cold weather states -- visiting Six Flags during Memorial Day weekend is the first outdoor event that teens attend, in celebration of the end of the school yr.
If you have kids/grandkids on Facebook, you could have them post the link to the pledge and also to Six Flags.
Last night, my son sent out the info to his Facebook buddies and received a lot of positive response.
The young kids like the idea of helping the soldiers, while having fun at the same time.
Point taken about this just getting set up, but I wondered how expatriate Americans would be able to participate. There should at least be online businesses that we could patronize.
And commented at HuffPo. Thank you General Clark for always being involved! Happy Memorial Day to you and your family!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Signed and forwarded... And have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
Email from Kim Cantrell re: Beyond Tribute
I wanted to say thank you for signing the Beyond Tribute pledge this Memorial Day. My family has served in the military going back four generations, including two members on active duty today, so it means a lot to me personally.
But it will also mean a lot to those veterans still suffering the wounds of war -- and their families.
You've joined thousands of like-minded Americans from across the country in taking the first step towards making our veterans national holidays meaningful again. Supporters like you and partners like Six Flags helped launch Beyond Tribute over Memorial Day, but this was only the beginning!
By Veterans' Day, we can do even better by getting more businesses signed on and more concerned Americans to take the pledge.
Can you invite five friends to join you in signing the pledge as we prepare for Veterans' Day?
Transforming these holidays into something more meaningful than another shopping and recreation opportunity isn't going to happen overnight.
As we get into summer, and as summer turns into fall, we'll be updating you periodically on our progress and asking for your help to get more people involved -- and encourage local and national businesses to start contributing, too.
It's important to get people involved now so that businesses we ask to participate for Veterans' Day know about the grassroots support behind Beyond Tribute.
Invite your friends and family to sign the pledge to support Beyond Tribute today.
I'm a great shopper, so I look forward to holiday sales as much as anyone. But I also know that it's time to make these holidays more meaningful.
Thanks again for joining me in supporting Beyond Tribute. I look forward to working with you in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
Kim
Kim Cattrall
National Spokesperson
Beyond Tribute
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
http://digg.com/world_news/Gen_Wesley_Clark_Tribute_is_Not_Enough