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The fires of freedom and liberty were ignited, but throughout our history, they would have to be defended. Today, that responsibility has been accepted by young men and women serving as soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines. They are every bit as dedicated to defending our nation's liberty as those who served before them.
Freedom Alliance was founded to carry out the spirit of those who signed our Declaration of Independence – working to protect our national sovereignty and ensuring that our government continues to derive its "just powers from the consent of the governed," and also honoring and supporting the men and women of our Armed Forces who protect our nation.
One way we honor our military heroes is through our Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to the sons and daughters of America’s military heroes – those who sacrifice life or limb in defense of our freedom.
Allow me to share some stories of these children of American Heroes.
On May 16, 2008 one of Monica Sherrill’s dreams came true: she graduated from Villa Julie College with a degree in Early Childhood Education, as her proud mother, sister and brother looked on.
But the achievement was bittersweet; she missed her Dad.
Monica’s father, Major Geoffrey "Doc" Sherrill, of the United States Army Special Operations Command, an American Hero, gave his life for his country when he was only 39 years old. "Doc" Sherrill was a dedicated physician who cared for his troops. Monica was just ten years old when her father was killed.
We cannot bring Monica’s father back to her and her family, but through the generosity of caring and patriotic Americans, our Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund helped to make her dad's dream of a college education for her, come true.
Today we celebrate and congratulate Monica and all our 2008 Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund graduates. You will see some of these outstanding youngsters in the “Salute to Our Scholarship Fund Graduates” – below.
I know you will be as moved by their stories as I am. Another one of our 2008 graduates, Bryce Hattamer of Michigan, received a Freedom Alliance Scholarship for all four years of college and earned his degree in Computer Science from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.
As Bryce received his diploma, no doubt his thoughts turned to his father, Army Staff Sergeant Stephen Hattamer, who was killed in action on Christmas Day, 2003, while serving our country in Iraq. This American Hero served his country for 25 years and is the recipient of a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Bryce was just 17 years old and a senior in high school when his father was killed, leaving Bryce, his brother, his sister and their mother without their beloved father and husband. Bryce wrote to me about his dad:
“My Father’s service in our military makes me proud. He had the great privilege and responsibility of protecting our freedom. What greater responsibility could there be? I am so proud of him and I know he would be proud of me.”
All of us at Freedom Alliance are proud of Bryce. We are honored that we could support his college education, because in doing so, our scholarship serves as a reminder to him, and all our scholarship students, that the parent they lost was a hero – not because of the way they died, but because of the way they lived.
“Graduation Day” for Monica and Bryce and all our bright, young scholarship recipients was made possible because generous Americans like you opened their hearts in support of the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, making it possible for these sons and daughters of American Heroes to have a college education.
When the dream of a college education comes true, it transforms a youngster’s life forever.
That is why my good friend, Sean Hannity, and I have worked together for many years to rally support for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Sean is a tremendous ally in this cause and I am very grateful to him. Thanks to many generous Americans, the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships as a way to honor their parents who have served and sacrificed for our country.
But our work is far from finished.
To date, more than 4,500 American service members have been killed in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, leaving behind thousands of young children. These children, many of whom are young now, will be eligible for a Freedom Alliance Scholarship in the years to come.
The children who have been left behind deserve our help.
These children and their families face the everyday challenges of making a living, going to school and the many family activities each of us does on a daily basis. But these families take on these responsibilities without the help and support of a parent who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Today, more and more children of America’s military heroes are looking to us – the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund – for financial assistance with the ever-mounting costs of a college education.
We are expecting a record number of new Scholarship Applications for the 2008-2009 academic year, which begins in September, but we have a record number of Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors whose scholarships are due to be renewed.
We are committed to providing scholarships to an ever-growing number of children, as together, we honor the bravery and dedication of their parents, with the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which is truly a Living Memorial To America’s Military Heroes. You can help us by sharing information about the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund with a student who you think may qualify.
When Monica’s and Bryce’s fathers sacrificed their lives for our country, Monica and Bryce sacrificed too. Sadly, there are thousands of children just like them, whose father or mother have laid down their lives for the defense of these United States. Many more fathers and mothers are permanently disabled, leaving their families in difficult financial situations.
Remember that a special way you may honor these American Heroes, who bravely served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and who sacrificed life or limb in defense of our country, is by making a generous donation to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. (GO HERE).
Please honor our military heroes by supporting the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund with your most generous tax-deductible contribution today. Your gift to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund not only honors America’s military heroes, but reminds their children that their parents’ sacrifice will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.
Happy Independence Day! God bless you and God bless America.
Semper Fidelis,
Lt Col Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.)
Founder and Honorary Chairman
FREEDOM ALLIANCE
P.S. Please open your heart to this cause which is so dear to all of us with your most generous tax-deductible gift today by GOING HERE.
P.P.S. If you know of a student who may be eligible to apply for a Freedom Alliance Scholarship, please have him or her visit our website: www.freedomalliance.org for information and an application form.
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