"Freedom Walk"
Article & Pictures by Alan Edwards

September 11, 2007 (Patriot Day) marked the beginning of a new tradition in Tucson. A “Candlelight Freedom-Walk” was followed with a patriotic concert by the Tucson Pops Orchestra. The event was sponsored by Operation HomeFront and organized with help from VFW Auxiliary-10188 Veterans and Family Support (VFS) committee. TriWest was the primary contributor to this event. There were well over 300 participants plus a bunch of kids, mostly from deployed soldiers of the Military Family Readiness Groups (FRG), who are strong partners in the VFS committee.

            Participants were provided with Freedom-Walk Tee-Shirts with the Operation Home Front logo. The candlelight walk started off in an organized manner, but became scattered by the time walkers reached the Demeester Center in Reid Park. The Tucson Pops Orchestra was in their best form this evening, and the concert opening was spectacular: Davis Monthan AFB Color Guard posted the colors, Auxiliary-10188 Chaplain Agnes Skoropad provided an invocation, and children of deployed soldiers gathered on stage to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. Thereafter the Tucson Pops Orchestra entertained everyone with a splendid array of musical selections, mostly patriotic … This one will be remembered for a long time.


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Slideshow "Freedom Walk"
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Pictured are Operation HomeFront Director, and event sponsor, Barbara Moore discussing Freedom Walk proceedings with Auxiliary-10188 VFS chair, and event organizer, Kim Sloan.

 

 

VFWDepartment Commander Betty Gripp gets help from VFW sisters dressing-up for the 9/11 Freedom Walk and Concert in Tucson. (L-R) Auxiliary Department Vice President Mary ‘Ronnie’ Heinemann; partially hidden is Kim Sloan; Auxiliary-10188 President Eileen Bedel and FRG/Auxiliary-10188 member Claudia Munoz.

Pictured are some of the participants at the Freedom Walk and Concert in Tucson. There were well over 300 ‘walkers’ at this event.

 

Pictured are Children of deployed soldiers who are waiting to go on stage to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, at the 9/11 Concert in Tucson.

 

 

VFW-10188 members Chrissy & Gary Harlan came to the Tucson Freedom Walk and Concert fully prepared to enjoy the evening (and maybe stay awhile…)

 

 

Auxiliary-10188 Chaplain Agnes Skoropad opens the 9/11 Patriots Day concert with an invocation. On Agnes’ left is emcee Dave Sitton, and on his left is Conductor Lazlo Veres, with members of the Tucson Pops Orchestra.

Davis Monthan AFB Color Guard posted the colors at the 9/11 Patriots Day Concert in Tucson. On stage kids of deployed soldiers led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.

Pictured is the group representing TriWest at the 9/11 Freedom Walk and Concert in Tucson. TriWest was the primary contributor to the event.

 
 

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