CONTACT: Ben Becker
202-414-0781
Sep 15, 2006

CADETS HONOR 9/11 IN FREEDOM WALKS NATIONWIDE

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NGYCP cadets in Illinois, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Virginia honored the memory of those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks by participating in Freedom Walks across the country.  The first Freedom Walk occurred last September 11 in Washington, and this year generated similar events in more than 130 cities in all 50 states.

In Washington, Commonwealth ChalleNGe Academy cadets once again played a major role in the nation’s capital’s event by presenting the colors and leading the second half of the walk just as they did last year.  The cadets traveled nearly four hours from their campus in Virginia Beach, Va., and had the opportunity to meet Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace and Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.

In Oklahoma City, Thunderbird Youth Academy cadets traveled 2.5 hours from their campus in Pryor, Okla., to take part in the Oklahoma City Freedom Walk.  The cadets performed community service at the event by walking at the end of the procession and picking up stray water bottles and presented the colors at the walk’s conclusion before the musical tribute by country music artists The Great Divide and Luke Stricklin.  The cadets also stood with current military members during a tribute to service members.

Wyoming Youth ChalleNGe Program cadets hosted a Freedom Walk in Guernsey, Wyo. on the morning of Sept. 11 that started at the Guernsey High School football field and ended at the Veterans of Foreign War Memorial.  The cadets were joined by members of the 90th Ground Combat Training Squadron and Wyoming’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Ed Wright, who addressed the group in front of the memorial.

Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy cadets joined Chicago’s Freedom Walk on the morning of September 10 as they walked along the lakefront from Soldier’s Field.  Illinois’ Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn spoke at a commemorative ceremony and the USAR 85th Division Band provided entertainment.  The cadets lined the start of the Freedom Walk route and acted as an honor guard.

All the cadets did a great job in representing the NGYCP across the country, honoring those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks and saluting our military men and women, past and present.