62644.com has always been supportive of our deployed troops and their families. Sure we have gathered and sent a lot of needed items all over the world to them but it was not those items that was in the minds of the members of the 1144th Transportation Unit.
During our little gathering on Main Street (Hangin With Heroes), Friday, May 30th, I was busy taking photos when I heard Phil Perkins clear his throat in that unmistakable official manner. The next thing I heard was my name called and upon turning this is what I saw...
I knew immediately by the look in his eye that this was no longer Phil Perkins, Havana resident and Firefighter who I have known for quite some time. The man I was facing was SSG Phillip Perkins officially representing the 1144th.
FREEDOM SALUTE HISTORY:
The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history, designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them during the President’s call to duty for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
In December of 2003, the Army National Guard launched the "Freedom Salute Campaign," an unprecedented program designed to recognize Army National Guard Soldiers as well as their families and others who have supported them as they answered the call to duty both at home and abroad. Francis Harvey, secretary of the Army, said the goal of the campaign is to recognize those who make Soldiers’ service possible. “Our Soldiers could not answer their noble calling of defending the values that have made our country great – this call to duty – without the support of those from whom they draw so much strength,” Harvey said.
