The fourth annual national America Supports You (ASY) Freedom Walk, an event to reflect on the lives lost Sept. 11 and honor veterans, past and present, will commence in Washington, DC on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. More than 300 walks are planned in all 50 states and 12 countries, including the largest, the National ASY Freedom Walk.
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England will join family members and friends of Sept. 11 victims, and thousands of Washington, D.C.-area residents to walk from Arlington National Cemetery to the crash site at the Pentagon where the Grammy Award winning Oak Ridge Boyswill perform a musical tribute. Also, honoring the victims of Sept. 11 at the Pentagon, the Twin Towers and a field in Shanksville, Pa., will be 60 bagpipers from Northern Virginia Firefighters' Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the New York City Transit Pride Pipes and Drums, and the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums.
Golf carts will be available to shuttle media ahead of the walk. There will be several media sites for photo opportunities along the walk route. Media may be dropped off at photo opportunities along the route but must return to the golf carts ahead of the walk or join the walk behind the official party leading the walk.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial is located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery accessed by Metro’s Blue Line, Arlington Cemetery stop.
Opportunity 1: (WIMSA at Arlington National Cemetery)
WHO: Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sec.
Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense; 60 Bagpipers including
Northern Virginia Firefighters' Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the
New York Transit Pride Pipes and Drums, and the Piladelphia
Police and Fire Pipes and Drums; Sept. 11 survivors and their families.
WHAT: England will make opening remarks and will join Cartwright and the
bagpipers in leading the NationalAmerica Supports You Freedom Walk
at approximately 9:15 a.m.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 7; Media registration from 6:30-9:00 a.m. at media tent.
WHERE: Satellite trucks must park at the Women in Military Service for America
Memorial at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.
Load-in time: 3:30 a.m. Set-up complete: 5:30 a.m.
Other media can park vehicles at the Arlington National Cemetery until
7:45 a.m.
Opportunity 2: (Memorial Drive Rotary Circle)
WHO: Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy
Secretary of Defense Gordon England lead thousands of walkers
participating in the National America Supports You Freedom Walk.
WHAT: Photo opportunity to capture walkers exiting Arlington National
Cemetery.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 7; if media chooses not to take golf carts from Arlington
National Cemetery they must be pre-set at Rotary Circle by 7:30 a.m.
Rolling road closures start at 8 a.m.
WHERE: Rotary Circle on the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge.
Opportunity 3: (Rt. 27, Washington Blvd)
WHAT: Photo opportunity to capture Color Guard welcoming ASY Freedom
Walkers. Media must exit golf carts and proceed to memorial on foot.
WHERE: Route 27, Washington Blvd., which is closed to all vehicles.
Opportunity 4: (Pentagon South Parking)
WHO: Grammy Award winners, The Oak Ridge Boys
25 America Supports You homefront groups from California., Colorado., Florida.,
Michigan., Missouri., Maryland., Massachusetts., New Jersey., Ohio, Philadelphia.,
Texas, Virginia., and Washington, D.C.
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Deputy Secretary of Defense
Gordon England and Sept.11 survivors and families
WHAT: Musical tribute following the national America Supports You Freedom Walk.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 7 at approximately 9:45 a.m.
Media must be in place by 7 a.m. at Pentagon if not covering the walk route. Use I- 395
to enter Pentagon South parking lot.
Metro is encouraged because of limited parking availability and street closures. To arrange an interview with an America Supports You Freedom Walk spokesperson or for more information, please contact Debra Preitkis, (202) 414-0775 (w) , (202) 615-7124 (c) or at debra@susandavis.com.
