Nation Wide Memorial Quilt Display to Honor the Memory of Fallen Service Men and Women
Honor The Fallen Foundation, a Nonprofit Organization, has announced a unique memorial dedicated to government employees and service men and women who have been killed fighting in the war on terror. An "Honor The Fallen" Memorial Quilt Display will be on tour across the U.S. soon. The display will be made up of individual 3'x6' quilt panels created by the families and friends of those who have been killed since 9/11.
Davis, CA (PRWEB) January 11, 2005 -- Honor The Fallen Foundation (www.honorthefallen.org),
a Nonprofit Organization, has announced a unique memorial dedicated to
government employees and service men and women who have been killed fighting in
the war on terror. Veteran Air Force Pararescueman, Dave Cruz, felt he had to do
something for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice while defending the
nation. "I've been frustrated trying to think of a way to contribute,” explains
Cruz. That all changed after Cruz came up with an idea to build an “Honor The
Fallen” Memorial Quilt Display. The display will be made up of individual 3’ x
6’ quilt panels created by the families and friends of loved ones who have been
killed since 9/11.
“As soon as I came up with the idea, I called Jackie
Cunningham to tell her about my plan.” Jackie Cunningham is the mother of Air
Force Pararescueman, Jason Cunningham, who was killed in Afghanistan on a rescue
mission on March 4, 2002. The two became friends after Dave Cruz attended a
Memorial Dedication for Jason Cunningham in September 2002. Upon hearing the
news, Cunningham called another close friend with whom to share the news. “Pat
Marek, would definitely want to be a part of this,” explained Cunningham. Pat is
the mother of Army Ranger PFC Matthew Commons, who was also killed on the same
rescue mission as Jason Cunningham. The two mothers now serve as board members
for Honor The Fallen Foundation and have been close friends for the past two
years.
With overwhelming support by Jackie Cunningham and Pat Marek, Cruz
started the foundation on Veteran’s Day, 2004. One important goal of the
foundation is to establish an “Honor The Fallen” Memorial Quilt Display, which
will allow families an opportunity to tell a story about their loved one through
each quilt panel. The Memorial Quilt display will be on tour across the United
States in an effort to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the men and
women who have died serving our country. Only this memorial won’t just include
those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. It will include all service men and women
who have died overseas and in the U.S. while supporting the war on terror. “We
want to be sure to honor all military and government personnel who have lost
their lives defending our nation,” says Cruz. This includes the lives lost at
the Pentagon on 9/11.
The second goal of the foundation is to provide
financial assistance to the dependent families and immediate families who have
lost loved ones since 9/11. “We hope to be able to offer grants to the families
who need help most,” says Cruz. To help raise immediate funds for the
foundation, Operation Honor The Fallen has recently been launched. This major
fundraiser will span across the United States and touch the lives of many
Americans looking to help a great cause. The foundation has created silicone
bracelets with “HONOR THE FALLEN” embossed on each one as a tribute to the men
and women who have been killed. These memorial bracelets can be purchased
directly from Honor The Fallen Foundation for only $3.00. All proceeds will go
directly to the foundation to support its mission. To learn about the quilt
project or how to purchase a bracelet, visit www.honorthefallen.org or
call 530-750-1844 for information.
Interview Contact: Dave
Cruz
Address: 1949 5th St. Suite 110, Davis, CA, USA 95616
Phone:
530-750-1844, cell: 530-848-7627
FAX: 530-750-3163
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb196147.htm