FOR RELEASE: Sept. 6, 2007 | | Marine Corps Cpl. Megan Leavey, a Purple Heart Medal recipient, will speak before a California Freedom Walk, Sept. 11, 2007, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. | SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 6, 2007 – The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is joining forces with MilitaryConnection.com to host the second annual Simi Valley Freedom Walk on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The event pays homage to victims on the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and honors troops and veterans. The library is located at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, Calif. The afternoon’s events:
4:15 p.m. – Pre-program patriotic music by the 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton. 5 p.m. – Program begins with the following speakers and ceremonial activities: - The USS Ronald Reagan Honor Guard and Drill Team
- Capt. Terry Kraft, commanding officer of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan
- Cpl. Megan Leavey, Purple-Heart recipient and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran
- Deena Burnett Baily, whose husband, Tom Burnett, led the small group of courageous men who fought back against the terrorists on United Flight 93, on Sept. 11, 2001.
- An F-18 flyover
5:30 p.m. – Freedom Walk begins. The 1.8-mile route begins in the Reagan Library’s courtyard and concludes at Rancho Madera Community Park off of Wood Ranch Parkway. 6 p.m. – Walk concludes. Light refreshments served, and Air National Guard Band of the Southwest provides musical entertainment at the park. Complimentary shuttle service will return participants to their cars at the library. To register, go to www.militaryconnection.com, and click on “Simi Valley Freedom Walk.” Event sponsors:
Albertsons of Simi Valley; All American Audio Visual; Air National Guard of the Southwest, Arrowhead Water, The City of Simi Valley; Larry Borovay of Simi Valley; Command Performance, Office Depot of Simi Valley; Rebecca Kogen, Point Mugu Naval Air Base, The O’Green Family of Moorpark, The Red Cross of Ventura County, Simi Valley Sunrise Rotary, Simi Valley Rotary, Starbucks of Simi Valley, The Flag Factory, USMC Camp Pendleton’s First Marine Division Band, USS Ronald Reagan Honor Guard and Drill Team, Ventura County Star, Ventura Transit Systems. About the America Supports You Freedom Walk
The America Supports You Freedom Walk was created in 2005 to establish a national tradition of remembrance of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, to renew the commitment to freedom and the values of the country, and to honor U.S. veterans, past and present. |