“Off we go…”

   In 1998, Major Jim Freeman went on a mission to help military people connect with each other. 

   “Vets are bonded together in a special way I can’t describe, “said Freeman. “If they have a wholesome environment where they can talk with each other, it can help eliminate any long term emotional problems they might have.”

   So he and his wife Peggy started with clipboards and listed all the local veterans they knew. In 1999, 35 vets formed Task Force Patriot. Today over 550 vets representing 100 different churches and synagogues meet for dinner the first Thursday of every month at First Baptist Church in Lilburn.

   “This is not a combat club,” said Freeman. “It’s a gathering of all people who made a commitment to serve their country.”

   Their support for each other consists of more than breaking bread together once a month. TFP helps displaced and homeless veterans, provides financial assistance to military families, awards college scholarships and sponsors the Wheelchair Olympics. A month ago TFP participated in the dedication of the Lilburn Blue Star Memorial, sponsored by the Lady Bugs Garden Club. But their biggest extravaganza ever, Salute to the Troops, will take place at Stone Mountain Park on Memorial Day Weekend. The three day event, which commemorates the 60th birthday of the U.S. Air Force, will kickoff with paratroopers jumping onto the lawn.

   “As they free fall, you can hear their voices through the park sound system,” said Freeman. “The park has never done anything like this before.”

   Special treats include hourly flyovers featuring B-2 bombers, a 50-foot flight simulator, gyro-extreme ride, guest speakers Dr. Peter Marshall and Bobby Welch, and live music from Heartland of America Band and Aaron Tippin. 

   “This is not a fundraiser,” said Freeman. “All events are free. We want to pay tribute to our active military and raise awareness of their dedication.”

   This super show is not a one shot deal. Salute to the Troops is on the calendar for the next ten years and TFP is planning similar events in other major cities.

   But weekend celebrations are only a minor detail. Their main task is to set up military support groups like theirs all over the nation.

   “Thousands want to do it, but can’t seem to get it started,” said Freeman. “A full colonel from the Pentagon just met with us to see how it works. He said he realized that they’re looking at it from the top down, but we’re making it work from grass roots.”

   There are 27,000,000 veterans in the United States. So far, TFP has set up one other chapter in Reno, Nevada. When you see this idea fly all over the nation, remember TFP got off the ground right here in Gwinnett County. (Info: www.taskforcepatriot.com or see fliers in today’s paper.)

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