The "Let Them Go First" campaign is a means by which people of all ages can show a small but powerful gesture of kindness to soldiers and their families during those very emotional and stressful family reunions, when every minute matters when you're home again.

The "Let Them Go First" campaign is non-political and does not require that participants take a stand for or against war or conflict, but instead encourages Americans to take a stand families. LTG1!

INTERVIEW ON ARMY WIFE TALK RADIO

Hello Friends!

I hope all is well with you and yours. I want to tell you about a great resource for army wives: ArmyWifeTalkRadio.com, and they’re planning radio programs for the wives of other military branches. You can hear my interview with Army Wife Talk Radio on www.military.com by clicking on the following link and select the August 31 podcast: Tara's Tale August 31, 2006: Military spouse Tara Crooks interviews Anne Freeman about Let Them Go First. Click here or paste this into your browser: http://www.military.com/podcast/tutorial Please let your friends know about ArmyWifeTalkRadio.com. It's a great resource. Let me know if you listen in!

MEDIA: Please contact LTG1 at info@letthemgofirst.org for information and interviews.

A CAPTAIN, A BOY, AND A SONG: THE STORY OF 'LET THEM GO FIRST'

The “Let Them Go First” song, campaign and fundraiser were inspired by third-grader Charles McDaniels, who related this story to his local newspaper. Charles and his family were returning from a holiday vacation on Continental Flight #50 from Houston to Newark Liberty Airport on January 1, 2006.

When they landed, the Captain Gary Butler announced that two soldiers were sitting in the back of the plane who had just flown home from Iraq, and their families were waiting for them at the gate. Charles related that the captain announced, “We have troops on the plane in the back, so please stay seated and let the troops go by. They have been fighting for our country and want to get home to their families.” And that’s exactly what the passengers of Flight #50 did.

That simple gesture of kindness had a profound effect on young Charles, and also on me when I read his story in the newspaper, The Hunterdon County Democrat (not a political organization) www.hcdemocrat.com . I was so moved that I wrote the song “Let Them Go First” in honor of the captain and passengers. I recorded an acoustic demo of the song with my friend and fellow singer/songwriter Arlon Bennett that will be available for sale on this site in a few weeks. The song is currently being pitched to country artists in Nashville. Versions of the song with different musical styles will eventually be offered.

When people hear the song, the response has been so great that it dawned upon me that this song could be more than a good story; it could be a catalyst to support soldiers and their families with a simple gesture of kindness by letting them go first, hense the birth of the "Let Them Go First" (LTG1) campaign.

The song will be used to raise awareness of LTG1 and will also be used to raise funds Operation Hero Miles, a charity that permits donations of frequent flier miles to purchase tickets for families in order to unite them with soldiers who have been hospitalized as a result of their service in Iraq, Afghanistan, or surrounding area. Donated funds wil be used for support costs of the Operation Hero Miles activities.

Those who have heard the song were so moved – some to tears. Some said, “I’m going to do that – I’m going to let the soldiers go first.” You can read some of their comments below.

Contact us at info@letthemgofirst.org

Contact us at info@letthemgofirst.org

OFFICIAL LTG1 FUNDRAISER BEGINS!!

July 4, 2006, is the official start of the "Let Them Go First" fundraiser for Operation Hero Miles, the designated charity for LTG1 that permits you to donate frequent flier miles to the families of soldiers injured during service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Your unused frequent flier miles are used to fly injured soldiers families to the military hospital where they are being cared for, wherever that might be.

July To donate your frequent flier miles to this noble cause, visit the Fisher House Foundation at HeroMiles .

You can now purchase the song "Let Them Go First" as a download! $1.00 from each download sold is donated to Fisher House Foundation/Operation Hero Miles.

Let Them Go First is available for sale as a download on the official LTG1 website at www.letthemgofirst.org , or you can buy it now!  See below.

Proceeds donated to Operation Hero Miles from the sale of "Let Them Go First" will be used by Operation Hero Miles to pay for related flight expenses, such as ticket taxes, airport fees and airport security for the families so that the families do not incur any expenses, and a small portion of the funds goes to support Operation Hero Miles. Operation Hero Miles works in conjunction with the major U.S. airlines, and is operated by the Fisher House Foundation.

Thank you for all of your support of the Let Them Go First campaign and fundraiser. If you see soldiers on a plane, let them go first to be with their loved ones, because every minute matters when you’re home again! LTG1!

Purchase “Let Them Go First” now!

Contact us at info@letthemgofirst.org

“LET THEM GO FIRST” FUNDRAISER PROPOSAL

I will donate proceeds from the sale of downloads of my song, “Let Them Go First,” to support “Operation Hero Miles.” Individuals may also donate frequent flyer miles to reunite injured soldiers and their families via Operation Hero Miles. You can learn more about The Fisher House Foundation/Operation Hero Miles, below:

NOTE FROM FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION/OPERATION HERO MILES!

"Fisher House Foundation is delighted to be the beneficiary of this project," said Jim Weiskopf, Foundation Vice President.

"We started the Hero Miles program in early 2004 because we recognized the importance of having loved ones by ones side while recovering from grievous wounds or injury.

"In 2-1/2 years, we have provided nearly 6,000 free airline tickets to Americas heroes its wounded service members and their families.

"The proceeds from the song will help pay the airport security fees and any taxes on the tickets so they can be provided free of charge, and the visibility will let airline passengers know that they can donate frequent flyer miles to the Hero Miles program.

"We are grateful for the support."

Jim

James D. Weiskopf
Vice President, Communications
Fisher House Foundation, Inc.
Rockville, Maryland 20852
(V) (301) 294-8560 or (888) 294-8560
(F) (301) 294-8562

PURCHASE "LET THEM GO FIRST" SONG

You can now purchase "Let Them Go First" as a download! Proceeds to be donated to our designated charity, Operation Hero Miles!

Or visit my store at

WANT TO HELP REUNITE INJURED SOLDIERS WITH THEIR FAMILIES?

It’s easy! Simply donate your unused frequent flier miles to the “Let Them Go First” designated charity, Operation Hero Miles. Operation Hero Miles uses your donated miles to purchase airline tickets to fly families to hospitalized service members injured because of their service in Iraq, Afghanistan or the surrounding area. Want to do it? Visit

CORRESPONDENCE FROM LTG1 SUPPORTERS FROM MYSPACE.COM/LetThemGoFirst & YOUR E-MAILS!

LTG1 has many terrific supporters on myspace at the official LTG1 myspace site. The correspondence below is from myspace members (hence some of the funny names) and others who have e-mailed us. You can view the LTG1 myspace site by clicking on the link below. You can return to this site by either using your back button on your browser or clicking on the "My Band" website link on the LTG1 myspace webpage. I'd like to send a message out to all of these wonderful people who have sent us such beautiful notes. We are honored and blessed to receive your messages of encouragement, blessings and support!

http://www.myspace.com/letthemgofirst

 ~ Thanks for the add and I love the song, My brother-in-law will be landing in CA on Saturday.  He's been stationed at TQ Iraq, and then soon my boyfriend will be heading over seas. Not sure were he's off to, yet. I hope you have had a great weekend and again, great song! Kolleen~ What a beautiful song. I can't wait until my son comes home from Iraq. It would be wonderful to see him get off the plane first. Mary

~ You would be so happy and pround!  When I arrived at Seatac Airport to pick my husband up for his leave, they allowed me to go all the way thru, the even hid me so I could surprise my husband. He didn't come out first but half way up the ramp they told the other passangers that he was home on leave and his family was here to greet him.  Not only did he have me tackling him at the gate, but there were cheers and greetings of thanks from all around! It was amazing.  Thank you for all your doing and thanks to American Airlines for their help in making my husbands arrival so memorible.  MUAH! - Kelly, (Proud wife of SGT Fulton)

Johnnie Let's Them Go First in Nashville!!

Hi All: Here's a great note from a friend who's taking "LET THEM GO FIRST" in his hands and acting upon it. Way to go Johnnie!

~ I'd like to know more about this. I happened to be at the airport in Nashville on Sunday 9/10/06 and there was a soldier there returning from Iraq. I asked him if he had seen the emails going around or any info on this and he said "no". So I took it upon myself and went to the front of the line and made an announcement about this very thing and got him to the front of the line AND got him a standing ovation from all the folks there. I didn't have any authority to do a thing like this, I seized the moment! I figured that the worst that would happen is I get laughed at or shouted at or something. Quite the contrary! He was also made an announcement of by the Captain onboard over the plane's PA system. He was bought drinks and/or anything else he wanted. To make a long story a bit shorter, the folks abord that flight tried to make his flight a memorable one. One gentleman shouted out, "He does what he does so we can do what we do". Best wishes friend!! Johnnie Bubar

~ That song brought tears to my eyes! Thank you! Astcell

~ I wanted to say thank you for the add. I also wanted to say Thank you for all that you do in supporting our troops and I truly believe that all soldiers need to go first. Without them we would not be where we are today with our freedom!! RoxPeaches

~ Hi Friend, Keep up thr GREAT WORK I put your logo on my page Permanently I hope it helps you out some!  Your Friend Always! - T/S JoAnne

~ Just stopping by to say Hi! What You Are Is God's Gift to You . . . What You Make of Yourself Is Your Gift Back to God. God Bless & take care. Jenny

~ Thanks for your continued beating of the drum. God Bless Our Men & Women In Harms Way. Eric, Love It Or Leave It

~ Hey Anne: I just finished listening to the interview with Tara.It was great and I really enjoyed it. What a wonderful opprtunity to share the vision that God has placed in your heart. I truley belive that this work is from God and that one act by the captain of that plane has now turned into a full blown ministry to the military and their families!God's richest blessings to you for hearing and obeying HIS voice! Mommaa Arthell & Hearts

~ Thanx, and I hope this LTG1 Goes for all the world ... forever ... thanx a lot for supporting all the soldiers ... love you - Nandy

For more wonderful letter from our LTG1 friends and supporters, click here:  www.usemysong.com

Contact us at info@letthemgofirst.org

ARTISTS:  If you would like to participate in the LTG1 grassroots campaign by recording the song "Let Them Go First," please contact Anne Freeman at Aspire 2 Music at mailto:info@aspire2music.com> info@aspire2music>. 

If you are an indie artist of any genre and are interested in promoting the LTG1 campaign, we welcome your participation!