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New civic organization hosting salute to troops

  • Published
  • By Christi Spargur
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The St. Louis Regional Alliance for the Troops, a new military-supportive organization, will host a kickoff salute to the troops event Jan. 22 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at University of Missouri St. Louis.

The free event will formally introduce the alliance to the public and the local military community.

The alliance is dedicated to helping servicemembers, their families, and veterans living in the greater St. Louis metropolitan region. The alliance is made up of regional civic leaders and community organizations who have joined forces to increase public awareness about local troop support initiatives and resources available to the military community at large.

The purpose of the alliance is not to replicate existing avenues of support, but instead to create a one-stop focal point for the military community and for the general public to quickly and easily identify the region's network of resources from veterans benefits to military spouse employment assistance.

"This alliance is a role model for how communities treat the military, veterans and their families," said Charlie Brennan of KMOX radio and founding member of the alliance. "Its intent isn't to create a new organization but to simply help those already in place to achieve greater impact."

Several organizations with a military-support mission have already joined the alliance. They include the St. Louis Fisher House, Operation Homefront of Missouri and Southwestern Illinois, USO of Missouri, the Mission Continues, the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network, and Show Me Heroes. The alliance is adding new members daily.

Alliance initiatives to improve communication and networking across these groups in an effort to maximize their outreach have already started to see positive results.

"The simple fact that we are holding joint meetings and sharing ideas has allowed the Missouri chapters of the USO, Operation Homefront and ESGR (Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve) to discover ways to increase the amount and impact of the donations we receive from the community. The alliance is helping us to help the military and the public to find the right points of contact faster and easier," said Dave Woolley, vice chairman of Operation Homefront Missouri.

The event Jan. 22 will feature musical entertainment to include a performance the U.S. Air Force Band of MidAmerica's Hot Brass; a variety of informational booths; military spouse workshops and seminars; Veteran Affairs benefits and counseling; a Career Connections Network Center for veterans, servicemembers, and military spouses; a care package drive, and a job fair. Team Scott highlights include a keynote address by Gen. Raymond Johns, Commander of Air Mobility Command, and a military spouse workshop co-hosted by Mrs. Linda McNabb, wife of Gen. Duncan McNabb, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command.

The event is open to all members of the Team Scott community. Refreshments will be available through concessionaire sales. For more information about the St. Louis Regional Alliance for the Troops and the salute to the troops event, go to www.raftt.org.

Information provided by the St. Louis Regional Alliance for the Troops.