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Freedom Team Salute, an outreach program sponsored by the U.S. Army honors the service of Army veterans, parents and spouses of Soldiers, Guard and Reserves. The team recently celebrated the contributions of African American Soldiers to Army legacy, from the Buffalo Soldiers to the present, and saluted an ‘American Original,’  the Leo A. Brooks, Sr. family; the first African American family to have three members, a father and two sons, rise to the level of General Officer.
From the Buffalo Soldiers to the Tuskegee Airmen, to the 555th Triple Nickels to the 761st Tank Battalion, to name just a few, these trail-blazers dispelled the societal myth that Black men would not make good soldiers.  In fact, they made magnificent soldiers and they changed the face of the Army forever,� stated John McLaurin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs (Human Resources).
BG (U.S.A. Ret.) Leo A. Brooks, Jr., one of the Freedom Team Salute honorees, reflected that, “All of these stories and the thousands of men and women who are represented in them have paved a way for the Soldiers of today who so courageously represent all of us in Iraq and Afghanistan and other points around the globe.”
He called being a soldier “an affair of the heart,” explaining, “there is a bond of trust that comes from shared hardships, shared experiences, a common set of values and a common ethos.”

Freedom Team Salute preserves and perpetuates Army legacy by recognizing and sharing veteran and Soldier contributions.  Implemented under the auspices of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Chief of Staff, Freedom Team Salute is an official recognition program with two missions: (1) to honor all Army veterans for their service and dedication to the Army and to the people of the United States; and (2) to help Soldiers formally thank those who support them in their service.

Freedom Team Salute made its debut in May of 2005 in recognition of the powerful impact that a simple “thank you” can have. It also provides a vehicle for honoring the selfless service, loyalty, and sacrifice of Army veterans, as well as those who support today’s Soldiers, parents, spouses and employers.

“This is a time for all Americans to reflect on the sacrifices of those who struggled, and continue to struggle, to make this country a land where you are judged on your character, not on your color, gender or ethnicity.  It is about ensuring that we all have a chance to live the American Dream, not about unfair or under-served advantage.  It is about remembering the struggles of the past, lest we again fall prey to this ignorance in the future,” said Brooks.

To honor an Army veteran go to freedomteamsalaute.com

Posted on January 8th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Preserving the Historical Record