My Gettysburg Experience – Part Two – More About the Experience

By Russ Phillip Jr.

The People

The town’s people that I spoke with mentioned that the town of Gettysburg is a very reserved and private town.  Somehow that surprised me.  I will tell you why, the military park and town are very alluring to tourists .  People from all over the world come to visit the battle fields and cemetery.  So, the town doesn’t have much time to be private.  Second, they are all very pleasant and willing to share.  One of the nicer aspects of our visit there was the rangers.  They were very helpful and very friendly.  My Boy Rick was the best part of our installation. He should get a metal for everything he did for us.  He put up with a lot and crazy enough he didn’t have to.  Thank Pal.

The environment was amazing.  Flowers for Heroes was very well received.  The people visiting and especially those helping wanted a guarantee that we were coming back next year.  A nice feeling of appreciation and a feeling not too many people experience in their entire life time.  That is sad to me… 

 Dove Ceremony

Two days before the event, a very exciting email dropped in my inbox. It was a local woman who wanted to help at the cemetery, but not in the manner of the other volunteers.  Mary Ann Elliot from Ascending Spirits was interested in releasing a flight of doves in honor of those who rest at the Soldiers National Cemetery.

At high noon, Midge, myself, and our team walked with the crate of Doves to center of cemetery where the dedication ceremony would take place.  Midge began to talk about our Flowers for Heroes and asked that I elaborate the importance of what we were there to do. I was honored to be standing at the resting place of such distinguished men, men with such courage and patriotism.  Heroes.  

After I spoke, a local woman by the name Jean Green stepped in front of the crowd. Her father, Charles Parker, lay just on the other side of the cemetery. She expressed some very deep emotions; she was touched that Flowers for Heroes and the Gettysburg community were able to come together to recognize the dire sacrifices our soldiers make. Her words lifted the hearts of all as she described her love for our country and those who defend our way of life.

The Press

The Associated Press arrived as we were still making the patriotic bouquets. They asked me question after question and then did a video interview, all while I was creating bouquets.  It was a nice piece and I was honored to have them interested in our cause.  We were the first story they covered that day, making me feel the high level of respect they had for our soldiers.

 ABC got there right after the doves were released at the end of the dedication ceremony.  Shoot, I would have liked for them to get film of how beautiful the doves were as they glided over the heads of the volunteers at the cemetery.  However, it was such a pleasure to talk about Flowers for Heroes and our vision to change the lives of Gold Star Families.  My dream is to show the families left by our fallen soldiers our gratitude of their sacrifice and make a lasting improvement to their lives. 

My Gettysburg Experience – Part One

By Russ Phillip Jr.

We began our morning at 4:30 AM.  It was still dark with the sun just barely peaking out. It was time to unload the flowers and supplies we would need to honor the resting heroes.  This early in the morning, the gates to the cemetery were still chained closed. This meant that the only way we were going to get in would be by climbing the fence. Midge would not jump fence without me, he was scared to go into cemetery alone.  Once over fence, we were surrounded by the tranquility of the cemetery, to the point of feeling the silence of the graves.  The birds that were in the background brought a reality to our footing.  As the sun began to rise, I noticed Midge filling with excitement as he began to prepare for the day’s activities.

Around 6:00 AM, the sun now over the horizon, the cemetery gates opened and Midge began preparing the flowers. Volunteers from the community and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts saved the day when they arrived shortly after 9:00 AM. I knew we would need help from volunteers but I didn’t realize how much.  We were rushed with volunteers early; boy scouts, girl scouts, their families, all there to help support Flowers for Heroes. We must have had 50 volunteers throughout the day.  All were eager to help and show their patriotism as they separated flowers, created bouquets, and encouraged others to take part in this patriotic event.

As we all know, nothing ever goes as smoothly as we plan for. Some difficulties arose when our flowers were held up at customs, causing our last shipment of flowers to arrive at nearly 4:00 PM.  By that time, the amount of visitors began to diminish and we all could feel our bodies tiring.

Over the next two and half hours, we were able to finish honoring the graves with another 1,000 bouquets.  As the last flowers were laid upon the resting place of Pvt. John J. Baddick, I began to reflect upon the day. I couldn’t have asked for a greater group of volunteers, a more patriotic community, or a better canvas to paint the historic picture of our first event.

The day was finished; I was engulfed in a warm feeling by knowing we were able to honor some of America’s finest soldiers and bring the community a little closer while doing so.

The Flowers for Heroes team packed up our supplies and headed back to the hotel to unwind.  Mission accomplished.  A Job Well done.   A day filled with reward, excitement, fun, laughter and a remembrance of why we were there; to honor our fallen heroes.
 

Flowers For Heroes Places Flowers on 5K Graves at Gettysburg

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania was a sea of red, white, and blue this July 4th.

A non-profit group called Flowers for Heroes marked the holiday by placing bouquets of flowers at thousands of graves at the historic Soldiers National Cemetery in south-central Pennsylvania.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m., representatives of Flowers for Heroes handed out red, white, and blue bouquets to visitors to place in front of the headstones. Volunteers from the community as well as local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts assisted the group’s effort to honor over 5,000 graves with flowers.

On their website, www.flowersforheroes.org, Flowers for Heroes allows people to sponsor bouquets that will be placed on the headstones at various military cemeteries around the nation. This is only part of their effort to show their support to America’s defenders. Proceeds also go towards supporting Gold Star families who often struggle because of the sacrifices their family members made protecting our country.

"I was touched by the participation of the Gettysburg community," said Flowers for Heroes founder, Russ Phillip, Jr. "The efforts of Flowers for Heroes are minimal without the support of our fellow Americans. This is crucial to reaching our goal of leaving no fallen American soldier without recognition of their sacrifices and patriotism."

More than 3,500 Union soldiers are buried at Gettysburg, also known as Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Veterans from later conflicts are also buried there.

For more information about the Flowers for Heroes organization, upcoming events, and ways to become involved, please visit www.flowersforheroes.org.

View article source

ABC News 27 Covers Flowers For Heroes at the Gettysburg Installation July 4th

View video source 

Feedback from Tom Riordan

July 8th, 2009

Hi Russ,

We met yesterday at the Penny Road Pub.  As a veteran, I have to tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing to honor our fallen heroes.  You are a great American.

Far too many people today take for granted all the freedoms and opportunities available to American’s that are not available to many people in other countries.  Nobody can accuse you of that same sentiment
 

Best wishes to you and all your endeavors.  Please let me know if I can help with anything.  My field is investments and retirement planning.

I Salute you!

Semper Fi,

Tom Riordan

Gettysburg Times Covers Flowers for Heroes in Gettysburg July 4th

FLOWERS FOR HEROES — Russ Phillip, Jr., above left, founder and CEO of Flowers for Heroes, prepares bouquets for visitors to pick up and place on the headstone of their choice at the Gettysburg National Cemetery on Independence Day. Flowers for Heroes is an organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen heroes and their families. Above right, David Jobes of Damascus, Md., took part in the event. Jobes chose to honor an unknown soldier.

FLOWERS FOR HEROES — Russ Phillip, Jr., above left, founder and CEO of Flowers for Heroes,  prepares bouquets for visitors to pick up and place on the headstone of their choice at the Gettysburg National Cemetery on Independence Day. Flowers for Heroes is an organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen heroes and their families. Above right,  David Jobes of Damascus, Md., took part in the event. Jobes chose to honor an unknown soldier

View article source 

Flowers for Heroes – July 4th Gettysburg Installation

Associated Press Announces Flowers for Heroes Going to Gettysburg July 4th

Posted on July 02, 2009 

Gettysburg, Pa. (AP) – Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania will be a sea of red, white and blue this July 4.

A non-profit group plans to mark the holiday by placing bouquets of flowers at thousands of graves at the historic veterans cemetery in south-central Pennsylvania.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m., representatives of Flowers for Heroes will hand out red, white and blue bouquets to visitors to place in front of the headstones. Volunteers including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will assist the group’s effort to mark 5,000 graves with flowers.

Flowers for Heroes sells the bouquets online, donating the proceeds to groups that support families of service members killed in the line of duty.

More than 3,500 Union soldiers are buried at Gettysburg, also known as Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Veterans from later conflicts are also buried there.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Russ and Flowers for Heroes at Illinois Freedom Run

The Illinois Freedom Run is basically about two things; showing our fellow American’s the sacrifices required for our freedom, while strengthening our bond as patriots of the greatest nation under God.  We help by paying tribute to the memory of those fallen from conflicts around the world from 1979, to current conflicts in the Middle East.
We encourage members of all communities near and far to join us for this event. Those who don’t ride a motorcycle can show their support by in other numerous ways. The route is lined with Americans waving American Flags and paying tribute. In the past we have had tens of thousands of participants committed to showing their appreciation for the sacrifices they have made.

The funds raised from donations are used to update and maintain the Memorial Wall while also allowing us to continue honoring our fallen through various community events. In the past we have provided financial assistance for the education of the children of our fallen heroes. Our hopes are that a higher education can lead to  a future with more diplomatic solutions and less military involvement.

The Illinois Freedom Run is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. As we have learned through history, the biggest casualty of any war or conflict is forgetting our fallen.

“A nation that forgets its heroes is a nation destined to be forgotten.”

–Calvin Coolidge–

A Granite Memorial Wall was dedicated on June 19, 2004 to commemorate the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1979. The project was conceived by Tony Cutrano and Jerry Kuczera. Being the first of its kind, this remembrance piece was only conceivable because of the materials, labor, and generosity provided by our fellow American’s.

It took 20 years for this monument to be able to honor the American soldiers involved in Vietnam, and almost 60 years to honor our WW II veterans. 

The wall displays the names of our fallen heroes from conflicts around the world. These are the men and women who perished and as a result of our military involvement in Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Cole, USS Stark, and numerous terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland, and the current conflicts in the Middle East. 

The first Memorial we erected was in the small town of St Anne Illinois, the hometown of Capt. Ryan A. Beaupre, one of Illinois first casualties in the war against terror. We have donated memorials to all of the veteran homes and hospitals in the state of Illinois in honor of all our veterans, both past and present.
What did you do?

Roughly 30,000 bikers ride motorcycles across Illinois, from Morris to the riverfront in Marseilles where the memorial wall is located. Everyone gathers at the wall following the ride to socialize and reflect on what our ride represents.

How many were there?

28,000 bikers and about 50,000 people showed up in Marseilles for last year’s event. There was live music along with food and drinks. Numerous vendors and other veteran organizations attend to show their support and bring everyone together by providing that feeling of a town fair.

Why did you do it?

This is what Flowers for Heroes is all about.  Our mission is to support Gold Star families, promote patriotism and show our soldiers that we firmly stand behind what they do for our country.  We salute and support all Gold Star fund raising groups.

Flowers for Heroes – Gold Star Families Concert – Saturday July 11th

Flowers for Heroes would like to invite you to an exciting night of music, drinks and entertainment. Chicago’s own “The Del Souls” will be performing your favorite music from The 50’s and 60’s.

The night will feature many special guests including Joe Cantafio , The Brooze Brothers and many more to come. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction featuring autographed items from some of today’s biggest entertainers.

When:  Saturday, July 11th, 7:30 – 11:30

Where:  Willowbrook Ballroom

8900 Archer Avenue

Willow Springs, Illinois

Tickets:  $12.00

Click here to see the location of the event.

For questions about the event or other Flowers for Heroes inquiries, please call (877) 923 – 2769 or email info@flowersforheroes.org