NASCAR supports you

On Thursday, Sept. 18, NASCAR drivers and executives made a pit stop atWalter Reed Army Medical Center to visit patients, staff, and families of wounded warriors enroute to the Dover 400 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware.

After visiting some of the patients on the wards and in the Military Advanced Training Center, NASCAR paid tribute to the troops by hosting a dinner with entertainment by the band Candlebox and critically-acclaimed American singer/songwriter Toby Lightman.

It was a who's who in racing and enthusiasts scurried about the dinner tables in the Wagner Gym to get sightings of their favorite driver and autographs. Drivers Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, Ryan Joseph Newman, Russell Scott Riggs, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Busch, and Greg Biffle who seem larger than life and true daredevils in their racing gear were surprisingly just regular soft-spoken boys next door. Famed football coach and NASCAR Championship team coach Joe Gibbs, three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip and sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak were also on hand to sign autographs.

Having property in Daytona Beach, Fla. and passing the racetrack on a regular basis, I've been slightly interested in NASCAR. I know the sport has a following bigger than football -- hard to believe. But, after this event, my interest is piqued and I have more questions than answers. I'm looking forward to the energy, excitement and noise the next time I'm in Daytona.

Joey Rizzolo "Freedom Walks" His Way to an Exceptional Public Service Award

This is Jen DuBois with OSD Community Relations and Public Liaison, sharing a story of troop support from yesterday at the Pentagon.Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert T. Hastings, left, presents the certificate for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service to Joey Rizzolo, a 7th grader from Paramus, N.J., at the Pentagon, May 6, 2008. Rizzolo was awarded the medal for his support of Americas's servicemembers and his ASY Freedom Walk contributions. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess

On Monday, Joey Rizzolo was named one of America‘s top ten youth volunteers for 2008, receiving the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. On Tuesday, he visited the Pentagon to receive the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Who knows what this 13-year-old from Paramus, N.J. will do tomorrow!

As Senior Airmen Casey Stanley gave the call to orders causing the room to rise to its feet and stand at attention, Joey stood on the platform, looking only a little shy for all the eyes that were on him. By the time Senior Airmen Stanley finished listing his accomplishments, the shyness had faded behind a slight smile, suggesting the young man’s own modest sense of accomplishment. As he stood before Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert T. Hastings while his medal was pinned on, his average adolescent height seemed quite full-grown.

Among many other accomplishments, Joey was being recognized for his various efforts in support of servicemembers. He has volunteered hundreds of hours of his time working with Operation Goody Bag to send a “taste of home” to deployed military members. He also, at his own initiative, took the idea of the America Supports You FreedomWalk and turned it into what will likely become a local tradition in his hometown of Paramus. What strikes one about the story of his ASY Freedom Walk planning, referenced in the book he recently published “20 Steps to a Freedom Walk,” is that he not only got the project rolling but also carried the project through to completion through much of his own personal hard work and leadership.

At the end of it all, he stood quietly before the room and graciously thanked his parents, teachers, and friends for all their support, but he was the one to be thanked, for his example of passion backed by hard work to support a cause he believes in—America’s men and women in uniform.

Sticker Duty

Yesterday was "Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day" at the Pentagon...here is a first hand account from our America Supports You intern Mandy Fassett:

I was ten years old when woke up thrilled to go to work with my dad. I spent the day in my Dad’s shadow- meeting his co-workers, roaming around the building and listening in on lunch time table talk.

Ten years later a lot has changed. Instead of holding my dad’s hand I found myself dressed in khakis and a white America Supports You polo- I was officially put on “sticker duty.” That’s right, if you or your child received an ASY sticker or tattoo from a tall blonde, you met “the intern.” After walking up to bright eyed children excited to wear their stickers and convincing the older kids (who weren’t really into the stickers) that tattoos were still cool, I had an extremely rewarding experience.

Considering that the Pentagon is the largest office building in the world, I was anxious to see how the day would unfold. As tents were being set up, craft stations assembled and numerous volunteers were being escorted to the court yard...I watched (well observed, really, as I was running around with different tasks) as everything seemed to be falling place. Excitement was building up as children and their parents enjoyed the sunshine outside before the festivities began.

There were five different craft zones set up for the children to enjoy. Personally, I was a little jealous of the children I walked past with sand art designs, painted t-shirts and wind catchers. I wish I had the chance to partake in those types of activities when I went to work with my dad. Build-a-books and t-shirt painting seemed to be a big hit, and the line to get a balloon from the clowns seemed never ending. The day went as planned, at least from my perspective, and I guess there isn’t much that can go wrong when it comes to passing out blue draw-string bags (sorry to those who didn’t get one; we ran out), stickers and tattoos.

Parents tried going back into the building and their children put all their weight leaning in the direction of the court yard, begging to stay. One little girl came up to me as we were cleaning up, “Excuse me. Is there anything I can do to help you?” My reply was “No thank you sweetie. But did you have fun today?” Her blue eyes grew wider as a smile stretched across her face and she rambled on about the different things made. As her dad took her hand to walk away she turned and said, “I can’t wait till next year!”

I may not be here next year as an intern with America Supports You, but I’m sure there will be someone just as excited to be put on sticker duty and ensure that the children of the Pentagon see the amazing things that take place within its walls.

Mandy Fassett
OSD Public Affairs
America Supports You intern

Thanks Mandy! You can also hear the ASY Live interview from Linda Davis with Connect and Join, the organization that coordinated the event by clicking here.