Sacramento 9/11 Ceremony with military speakers, volunteers, community leaders, care packages for the troops.
Volunteers, Veterans, Active Duty Military, Gold Star Parents, Military Families, Elected Officials Unite to Support Troops Deployed on the Front Lines in the Afghanistan and Iraq
Sacramento, CA – Move America Forward, the nation’s largest pro-troop grassroots organization, announces the second annual PACKATHON, in cooperation with the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce as well as cooperation from the military community to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 so that we will never forget that day when our world profoundly changed.
The 9/11 PACKATHON will kick-off with an opening ceremony at the Move America Forward Operation Center emceed by former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness and featuring guest speaker Colonel Stephanie K. Williams – Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB and other military speakers who joined the military in direct response to the events of 9/11/2001.
Elected officials (see list below) will present honors and awards to local Gold Star Families and we will also be joined by other military, veterans, local business and community leaders.
9/11 PACKATHON aims to ship 911 care packages to the troops still fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq. Volunteers will be shoulder to shoulder with our nation’s bravest defenders assembling and shipping care packages that will be shipped to the front lines.
Care packages include personal letters of support along with high quality food and personal care items like San Francisco Bay Coffee, Premium Beef Jerky, Girl Scout Cookies, Genuine Oreo Cookies, Flavored Gatorade, Mixed Nuts, Trail Mix Bags, Baby Wipes, Hot Chocolate, M&M’s, Snickers, Skittles and other assorted Treats, Gum, Natural Grain Bars, Granola Bars, Protein Bars, Sunflower Seeds, Hot Apple Cider, Hygiene Kits, Shampoo & Conditioner, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Foot Powder, SPF Lip Balm, SPF Sunscreen, Bug Repellent, Military Issue Boot Socks, Magazines and Books, Casino Style Playing Cards, Phone Cards, Instant Lunches, Batteries, Laundry Detergent, Military Crisis Line Information, Special Seasonal Items. *partial list
Location
Move America Forward Operation Center
3105 Fite Cir. Suite 108
Sacramento, CA 95827
Schedule
1:30 – 2:30 PM – Ceremony, speakers, and awards
2:30 – 2:45 PM – Refreshments courtesy of event sponsors
2:45 – 4:30 PM – Volunteer care package assembly
4:30 – 5:00 PM – USPS pick up of military care packages
List of Speakers and Guests
Sheriff John McGinness (Emcee) – Sheriff McGinness spent more than 31 years with the Sheriff\’s Department and has served in every service area of the Department. He is a highly decorated veteran with a background in many high profile assignments. He now hosts a radio show on KFBK 93.1.
Colonel Stephanie K. Williams – Commander, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale AFB. Colonel Williams is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom and also commanded the 385th Air Expeditionary Group at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
Sergeant 1st Class Jeff Raver – Northern California Recruiting Battalion, enlisted because of 9/11
Sergeant 1st Class David Reilly Jr. – Elk Grove Station Commander, enlisted because of 9/11
Sergeant 1st Class Michael Gonzales – Woodland Station Commander, enlisted because of 9/11
Elected Officials Attending
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, via Representative
U.S. Congressman Ami Bera
California State Senator Jim Nielsen
California State Senator Richard Pan
*Additional guests being confirmed
Gold Star Families to be Honored
Dianne Layfield, Mother of L.Cpl. Travis Layfield, US Marines, KIA 4/6/2004
John & Betty Hall, Parents of SFC Bryan Hall, US Army, KIA 4/10/2009
Rinda Pope, Mother of PFC Alex Valera, US Army, KIA 5/19/2007
Charles & Leigh Nurre, Parents of Sgt. Joseph Nurre, US Army, KIA 8/21/2005
Karen Meredith, Mother of 1LT Kenneth Ballard, US Army, KIA 5/30/3004
Local media are invited to film the event including the speeches as well as the care packages being assembled. Contact Danny Gonzalez at (714) 926-6189 or [email protected]