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About 1,000 people walk in Sebring, Ohio's
second annual ASY Freedom Walk,
to remember and honor those who perished for freedom.
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Walking for Freedom
HOW CAN MY SCHOOL AND FRIENDS SHOW SUPPORT?
In 2005, Pentagon employees wishing to commemorate the attack on the Pentagon and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, created what has become a new national tradition—the America Supports You Freedom Walk. Over 15,000 people walked from the Pentagon to the National Mall to pay tribute to those who died; renew their commitment to freedom and the values of our country; and honor our veterans, past and present. The response from people across the country who learned of that first America Supports You Freedom Walk was overwhelming. The following year, in addition to the National Walk, 135 ASY Freedom Walks sprang up across the country. Last year, the number continued to grow as students of all ages with the help of their teachers organized ASY Freedom Walks. Over 120 schools hosted ASY Freedom Walks making up half of all the 255 walks that took place both in the United States and overseas in 2007.
This is your chance to work together with your fellow students to make a difference. Join us in taking a walk that has a purpose! Show your pride in America’s freedom and say thank you to those helping protect it. |
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| Kids, Students and Teachers | Find out what you can do to help |
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Thirteen year old Joey Rizzolo along with the help of America Supports You homefront group Operation Goody Bag is already working hard to bring about Paramus, New Jersey's second annual ASY Freedom Walk to commemorate September 11th. The East Brook Middle School student vowed to bring the new national tradition to his hometown shortly after Operation Goody Bag joined America Supports You last year. Joey began to coordinate his walk by presenting his ASY Freedom Walk plans to Paramus Mayor Jim Tedesco and the City Council. Joey's plans were unanimously approved by the Council, and the 2007 Paramus Freedom Walk turned out to be a great success with over 400 community members participating. He also successfully petitioned the Board of Education for September 11 to be a homework-free night for the entire school district. This year, Joey is hard at work again and plans to make his walk county wide. Joey has written a book called 20 Steps to a Freedom Walk.
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Joey Rizzolo,13,
Paramus, NJ |
Operation Goody Bag is a student-centered, service-learning initiative that expresses appreciation for America's veterans and develops students' value of service. The group recently held a packing event where students stuffed some 5,000 goody bags, which brought Operation Goody Bag over the 50,000 milestone. |
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WEEKLY READER
Check back later this summer to view the 2008 Weekly Reader program. |
Weekly Reader has teamed with America Supports You the past two years to create a program that can be used as a tool for classroom curriculum, while encouraging the meaning and tradition of the America Supports You Freedom Walk. In 2006, Colton Lockner read an article about ASY in his Weekly Reader which inspired him to host a Freedom Walk to show support for the military and personally for his uncle who is a Staff Sergeant in the Army. Plans are underway for a Weekly Reader piece that will be available Summer 2008.
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Three years ago, Colton Lockner of Sebring, Ohio planned an ASY Freedom Walk event through his school and was amazed when thousands of community members joined in. Lockner said he was pleased with the event that he planned after learning about ASY Freedom Walks in his Weekly Reader. He was especially happy about the number of people who participated. “I’m really surprised, because some people who sign up for stuff "don’t really come,” he said. “This time they all did.”
Robyn Lockner, Colton’s mother, was overwhelmed by how the event grew from what she’d thought started as a school project. “When he first went and presented (his idea) to Pizza Pan (a sponsor), we were guessing 50, 75, 100 people at the most,” she said. But Robyn said she’s “not surprised” that her son organized such a huge event. “That’s just Colton,” she said.
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In 2006, Sebring’s ASY Freedom Walk was one of more than 130 similar ASY Freedom Walks scheduled in all 50 states during the week of September 11 to remember the lives lost on 9/11 and to honor the nation’s servicemembers past and present. Lockner again hosted a successful second annual ASY Freedom Walk in 2007 and enlisted the talent of 13-year-old Nashville Star winner Jesse Galchick to perform after the walk.
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Colton Lockner, 11,
Sebring and Lake Milton, OH |
| Last summer Colton and his family moved to Lake Milton, OH. Colton has decided to host Lake Milton’s first annual ASY Freedom Walk. He also is hosting the 3rd annual ASY Freedom Walk again this year in Sebring. Colton hopes that this year’s walks are bigger and better than the past two years. Colton is hard to beat! |
The appeal of holding America Supports You Freedom Walks is taking root at the most basic levels of our society. Last year, 123 schools across the country hosted America Supports You Freedom Walks. Students and teachers found that ASY Freedom Walks are not only a meaningful way to capture the significance of 9/11, but offer an important history and civics lesson for students. Planning an ASY Freedom Walk with your class is a great supplement to your civics, language arts, and life skills curricula, while stressing the importance of the America Supports You Freedom Walk. Please refer to the Weekly Reader link for more ideas.
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