Rumsfeld Announces America Supports You Freedom Walk
August 09, 2005

As part of the Department of Defense effort to commemorate Sept. 11, 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld today announced the first-ever America Supports You Freedom Walk to remember the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, to honor U.S. troops and veterans, and to highlight the value of freedom.

The America Supports You Freedom Walk will begin at 10 a.m., EDT, Sunday, Sept. 11, and follow a two-mile route from the Pentagon to Arlington National Cemetery, across Memorial Bridge, passing several national memorials and ending on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. At the conclusion of the walk, participants will be invited to a concert by country music singer and songwriter Clint Black.

The America Supports You Freedom Walk is free and open to the public. Individuals interested in walking must register to participate at www.americasupportsyou.mil. Registration closes at 10 a.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 9, 2005.

The America Supports You Freedom Walk will be preceded by a private ceremony for the families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The Pentagon Memorial Fund is sponsoring the ceremony and additional information is available at www.pentagonmemorial.net.

To arrange an interview with the America Supports You Freedom Walk spokesperson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Allison Barber, please contact Tech. Sgt. Eileen Lainez, USAF, at (703) 697-5131.

America Supports You is a nationwide program launched by DoD to recognize citizens support for U.S. military men and women and communicate that support to members of American Forces at home and abroad. Information on the program is found at www.americasupportsyou.mil.