News Archives

United Methodist teen promotes National Military Appreciation month

 


United Methodist teen promotes National Military Appreciation month

LINK: Click to open full size version of image
A UMNS photo courtesy of Shauna Fleming

Shauna Fleming kicked off National Military Appreciation Month by thanking Army reservists during an event at the Talladega Superspeedway.

May 5, 2005

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

A 16-year-old United Methodist from California is the national spokesperson for National Military Appreciation Month.

Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month last year and Shauna Fleming wants it to be the “biggest and best” celebration ever.

Last year she started a campaign to collect and send a million thank you notes to America’s military service men and women. She’s been there, done that and has the picture of herself with President George W. Bush to prove it.

Fleming is well on her way to her next goal of collecting 1.4 million letters— symbolically one for every person serving in the Armed Forces. She has also written a book about her experience A MILLION THANKS, published by Doubleday Books.

Academy Award nominated actor Gary Sinise surprised Fleming at a studio in Los Angeles and offered to help her promote National Military Month. Country music star John Michael Montgomery lent her “Letters From Home,” to use as her theme song and NASCAR drivers have joined with her to generate more letters for the military.

Later this month, Fleming will be speaking at Light of the Canyon United Methodist Church, Orange, Calif. and telling her church family “any one can make a difference.”

“My faith is the most important part of my life,” she says. “I just remember God has a bigger plan for me and sees the big picture. That just gives me so much strength and so much confidence in who I am.”

Confidence seems to be something she has in great supply. Speaking to United Methodist News Service on her lunch break at Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif., seems like just another day in the life for her.

“My mom has always told me when I was four I could have run her house if she would have let me,” she says, laughing. “I have always been strong willed and very determined, but I never would have thought I would be so comfortable speaking in public.”

Since then, she has done so many radio interviews she could “do them in my sleep.”

“I never would have imagined I would be like that but I sincerely enjoy it and I love going to places to speak. I love letting people know the experiences that I have had, letting them know they can make a difference as well.”

Fleming was challenged by her father to collect a million thank you notes for the military last year. He and Alice Wax, who pushed Congress to designate May as National Appreciation Month, have started an Armed Forces Education Fund, a charity for the children of fallen soldiers.

“I thought doing something for Military Appreciation Month would just be awesome especially since it was just starting out,” she explains. “I saw after Sept. 11 that yellow ribbons went up, flags went out but as the months wore on, there was not so much patriotism anymore. I want to get people excited about it and let them know they can do whatever they want to honor the military.”

May includes VE Day, Military Spouse Day, Loyalty Day, Armed Forces Day/Week, National Day of Prayer and Memorial Day.

LINK: Click to open full size version of image
A UMNS photo courtesy of Shauna Fleming

Shauna Fleming thanks a member of an Honor Color Guard for his service. She is the national spokesperson for National Military Appreciation Month.

“This very important month therefore, honors those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our nation’s freedom and the men and women now serving in uniform,” says a statement on the Web site, http://www.nmam.org/.

Fleming has received many phone calls, emails and handwritten letters from the men and women in Iraq who have gotten some of the thank you letters. One solider told her because of the program he now has 30 pen pals. “He doesn’t have much of a family or close friends and he didn’t really get much mail,” she says.

“Most of the guys expect letters from family and friends but when you get them for complete strangers, that’s a whole different thing.”

One Marine base in Iraq sent Fleming a thank you letter signed by everyone and an “American flag that was flown over their base with Iraqi dirt all over it.”

“I wasn’t looking for appreciation out of this at all, I was just looking to make a difference in other people’s lives but when I get letters from troops, it makes it so worth it and just puts a huge smile on my face.”

Fleming kicked off the month at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and plans to end the month in Washington with Sinise, when his “Lieutenant Dan Band,” will perform. In between, Fleming says she will be out there doing whatever is asked of her to promote Military Appreciation Month.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Ask Now

This will not reach a local church, district or conference office. InfoServ* staff will answer your question, or direct it to someone who can provide information and/or resources.

First Name:*
Last Name:*
Email:*
ZIP/Postal Code:*
Question:*

*InfoServ ( about ) is a service of United Methodist Communications located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 1-800-251-8140

Not receiving a reply?
Your Spam Blocker might not recognize our email address. Add this address to your list of approved senders.

Would you like to ask any questions about this story?ASK US NOW


Contact Us

This will not reach a local church, district or conference office. InfoServ* staff will answer your question, or direct it to someone who can provide information and/or resources.

Phone
(optional)

*InfoServ ( about ) is a ministry of United Methodist Communications located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 1-800-251-8140

Not receiving a reply?
Your Spam Blocker might not recognize our email address. Add InfoServ@umcom.org to your list of approved senders.