Following below is an email Jim Hake (Spirit of America) received from a Marine now serving on at least his second tour in Iraq. I first met him in Ramadi, Iraq last June. He is an extraordinary young man. At the time he asked our help in getting sandals for children who couldn’t go out in the summer because of the hot streets. I encourage you to read his email. If you would like to post a comment that he (and others) can read, there is a link at the bottom of this message.
Many of you have encouraged us to increase Spirit of America’s visibility and to increase the scope/scale of our efforts. We have been working on that and have some good progress to report.
In the next month or so we’ll be kicking off a campaign (including televised Public Service Announcements or "PSAs") intended to increase support for projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Tommy Franks, Senator John McCain, Senator Joe Lieberman and (retired) Senator Bob
Kerrey have agreed to speak on our behalf and produce PSAs. We are very, very privileged to have the endorsements of such outstanding Americans.
The campaign was made possible (funded) by two large, anonymous donations from private individuals. Our two largest donations ever. One of the donors has a son who recently served in Iraq and who will be returning soon.
We’ll have more news on the campaign plans in the coming weeks and we’ll have information on how you can try to get the PSAs aired on television in your community.
All the best,
Jim Hake and the Spirit of America team
http://www.spiritofamerica.net
MESSAGE FROM MARINE SERVING IN IRAQ
—–Original Message—–
Jim,
It has been a while since we last spoke, but we have been extremely busy here in the violence ridden Al Anbar province. We have lost a significant number of Marines and friends. We have not been able to assist the people because those that want the country to remain in turmoil, keep blowing us up and killing those who are trying to get this country back on its feet. I don’t know how long it will be, or even if, before we will be able to assist the people who are in need
of our help. That poem hits home more than most people know. The insurgents want the populace afraid to make decisions. They also want them ignorant, and without choices.
Unfortunately, democracy cannot be theorized, it has to be implemented. In this case, implementation is by our commitment to the world that we will not leave this undone this
time. I hope, with all of my heart, that people appreciate the sacrifices that these heroes are giving for their family, friends, countrymen, and the entire free world. They have/are giving their lives so that others may live in freedom. That is no small task and is hardly ever appreciated.
Thank you and "Spirit of America" for all that you do to assist us in swaying the uninformed to our cause. Also, thank you for persevering the elements and the insurgents to still try to help those here. I will write more later.
