Dear Friend,

Heroes aren’t athletes who set new sports records or Hollywood actors who make “daring” films, or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others.

America enjoys freedom today because true heroes – the men and women of the United States Armed Forces – our courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Guardsmen – sacrifice their tomorrows for us.

Memorial Day is an opportunity for Americans to say “Thank You” to our brave defenders of freedom and their families, especially the children they have left behind. In declaring a day of memorial to those who had died in service to our country, General John Logan, then Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed on May 5, 1868:

“…let us in this solemn preserve renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude – the soldier’s widow and orphan.”

On Memorial Day and every day, Freedom Alliance honors America’s brave Defenders of Freedom through its Support Our Troops program, which over the years, has provided more than $1 million in assistance to our troops on the battlefield, as well as the combat-wounded military heroes who have returned from battle. The wife of one of our injured heroes recently wrote us:

"Dear Freedom Alliance,

We would like to thank you for your help in our time of need. My husband has been in the ICU for the last four months and it is really hard for me and our kids. We are just getting by day to day. Your grant helped me a lot to pay for my overdue bills. Once again, thank you so much and may God bless you all."

Hardly a day goes by that Freedom Alliance doesn’t get an urgent request to help a military family get food in the house and gas in the car or help with airfare so a loving Mom can be with her son during multiple surgeries and rehabilitation.

Just recently, an Army Chaplain called Freedom Alliance with an emergency request to help with the funeral expenses for a soldier’s wife, who had died in a tragic accident. This soldier was injured in Iraq and is currently recuperating at one of our military hospitals. Freedom Alliance also just rushed funds to the family of another soldier so they could travel to see his Purple Heart ceremony.

And, while the need is great here at home, on Memorial Day we must also remember our troops on the front lines of the War on Terror. Freedom Alliance continues to send care packages, as well as thousands of cards and letters of appreciation to those on the battlefield.

Your generous online contribution today will enable us to continue honoring these heroes. I visit these brave men and women every chance I get. They are the best and bravest of a new generation of Americans defending our right to remain free. When I see them, I bring them your prayers of hope and messages of encouragement and love – reminding them that the American people will never forget the sacrifice they make.

Freedom Alliance also assists families and the children left behind through the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund which honors the bravery and dedication of Americans in our Armed Forces, who have sacrificed life or limb in service to our country, by providing educational scholarships for their children.

To date, Freedom Alliance has awarded more than a $1 million in scholarships in the last several years and we have 105 students on scholarship this academic year. Two of our scholarship recipients are pictured left with Chief Warrant Officer Gayward Hendry, USMC, (Ret). They are Jessica Schwab (left), who is a sophomore at the University of Chicago and Megan Speicher-Harris, who is a sophomore at the University of Florida. Both of their fathers served in the U.S. Navy. Commander Pete Schwab was killed when his plane crashed when Jessica was just 11 years old. Many of you may remember Captain Scott Speicher, whose plane was shot down over Iraq in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, when Megan was only four years old. He is officially listed as Missing In Action.

Sadly, in the last 20 years, more than 15,000 U.S. service members have lost their lives defending our country. More than 3,400 men and women have been killed in Operation Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, leaving behind thousands of young children. I’ve seen these heroes make that final sacrifice for our country. It’s never easy. What makes it more difficult is to know that this American’s dying prayer is for a loved one back home.

The children who are left behind deserve our help. With your support, these children will not only attain a college education, but they’ll know that their parents are heroes – not because of the way they died, but because of the way they lived.

Please click here to make your most generous online gift to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund – A Living Memorial to America’s Military Heroes.

Please join with me to pay tribute to our front-line warriors and their families and children with your tax-deductible contribution today? May we count on you this Memorial Day as together we honor them and thank them for the sacrifices they have made for our great country.

I am counting on you, my friend, to open your heart to this cause which means so much to all of us. Please click here to make your gift and keep our Brave Defenders of Freedom in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you and your family during this Memorial Day holiday and thank you for your generous support.

Semper Fidelis,

LtCol Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.)
Founder and Honorary Chairman
FREEDOM ALLIANCE

P.S. For five years now, my good friend, Sean Hannity, and I have teamed up to rally support for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. This year, we will be holding five incredible Freedom Concerts with entertainment by some of the hottest performers in country music!

FREEDOM CONCERT SCHEDULE

July 10 – Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, GA.
July 26 – Coors Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
August 9 – Kings Island, Cincinnati, OH
August 14 – Nokia Theatre, Dallas, TX
September 11 – Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ.

The Freedom Concerts benefit the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. For details visit www.freedomalliance.org and to order your tickets, call (800) 329-5454.