America
Supports
You:
Manhattan
‘Jewel’
Offers
Troops
Respite
By
Samantha
L.
Quigley
American
Forces
Press
Service
WASHINGTON,
March
2008
–
What
began
in
1919
as
simple
lodging
for
servicemembers
returning
from
World
War
I
has
since
become
a
“jewel
in
the
heart
of
Manhattan,”
with
an
expanding
mission
that
includes
supporting
deployed
troops.
“The
main
effort
of
the
Soldiers’,
Sailors’,
Marines’,
Coast
Guard
&
Airmen’s
Club
is
to
provide
reasonably
priced
accommodations
to
servicemen
and
women,
as
well
as
any
members
of
the
(New
York
Police
Department
and
New
York
Fire
Department)
in
order
to
express
our
gratitude
for
all
of
their
efforts,”
said
Connie
Morinello,
one
of
the
organization’s
committee
members.
In
addition,
the
organization
founded
by
Eleanor
Roosevelt,
Gen.
John
J.
Pershing
and
Cornelia
Barnes
Rodgers,
who
served
with
American
forces
in
France
as
an
ambulance
driver,
now
offers
veterans
a
variety
of
services.
“We
also
work
with
wounded
warriors
at
events
such
as
the
NYC
marathon
and
the
Veterans
Day
parade,”
Morinello
said.
“(We)
organize
fundraisers,
social
gatherings
and
send
out
care
packages
and
correspondence
to
troops
deployed
overseas
and
at
bases
nationwide.”
The
club
recently
became
a
supporter
of
America
Supports
You,
a
Defense
Department
program
connecting
citizens
and
companies
with
servicemembers
and
their
families
serving
at
home
and
abroad.
Morinello
said
the
club
hopes
this
affiliation
will
increase
its
visibility
among
those
who
wish
to
support
its
efforts
as
well
as
those
eligible
to
use
the
facility.
“We
hope
to
be
able
to
reach
out
to
an
increasing
number
of
individuals
and
organizations
around
the
country,
making
them
aware
of
what
we
do
and
how
we
support
our
heroes,”
she
said.
America
Supports
You:
Billboards
Build
Gratitude
for
Troops
By
Samantha
L.
Quigley
American
Forces
Press
Service
WASHINGTON,
Feb.
2008
–
A
troop-support
group
in
a
small
southern
Michigan
town
is
working
to
raise
public
awareness
and
appreciation
for
troops
and
their
families.
“‘Operation
Never
Forgotten’
bridges
the
gap
between
our
military
and
civilian
worlds
by
creating
nonpartisan
national
awareness
advertising
for
our
troops,
veterans
and
their
families,”
Linda
Kelly,
the
group’s
president
and
founder,
said.
“(The
organization)
has
rolled
out
over
500
billboards
across
America
on
highways
and
in
airports
from
Times
Square
to
L.A.”
The
billboards
display
an
unmistakable
military
theme
with
phrases
encouraging
viewers
to
remember
and
support
the
military
and
their
families
and
the
sacrifices
they’re
making.
For
example,
one
shows
an
American
soldier
with
the
phrase
“Heroes
Not
From
Movies.”
The
group
avoids
espousing
opinions
about
the
war.
“Operation
Never
Forgotten
separates
the
war
from
the
warrior,”
Kelly
said,
adding
that
the
group’s
campaigns
stimulate
volunteerism
for
all
military
support
organizations
helping
deployed
troops
and
wounded
warriors,
as
well
as
those
honoring
our
fallen
heroes.
The
organization
is
working
to
expand
its
advertising
to
media
outlets
beyond
highway
billboards.
It’s
focusing
on
other
outlets
where
its
message
will
be
seen,
including
transit
systems,
shopping
malls,
sports
facilities,
and
more
traditional
advertising
venues
like
newspapers,
magazines
and
radio.
Operation
Never
Forgotten
recently
became
a
supporter
of
America
Supports
You,
a
Defense
Department
program
connecting
citizens
and
companies
with
servicemembers
and
their
families
serving
at
home
and
abroad.
