Freedom Has A Face

2021 RECAP10-YR FHAF ANNIVERSARY EVENT2021 WAS A YEAR OF GREAT HOPES IN PLANNING A TEN-YEAR FHAF ANNIVERSARY EVENT FROMTOMMYS RESTING PLACE TO 2ND RANGER BATTALION CULMINATING ON OCT 12, 2022. INITIALLY, THINGSWENT WELL.O APPROVED BIKE/WALK PLANNED (UP 395 INTO BACK GATE OF FT LEWIS PROTESTORS).O RICK HOOKER AND WIFE CHERELLE (R.N.) COMMITTED TO CO-MANAGE ENTIRE TRIP.O JOSEPH ARRANGED FOR RECUMBENT BIKE DONATIONS.O RESEARCHED EACH COUNTY ALONG THE ROUTE AND SHERIFF CONTACT INFO.O CONTACTED FIRST FEW SHERIFFS SOLICITING CO-OPERATION.THE LAST BULLET LISTED IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED TO GO SOUTH. SHERIFF CORRESPONDENCE ON OFFICIALFHAF LETTERHEAD, EMAILS, AND FINALLY, PHONE CALLS WERE MADE. IN THE END, I FOUND OUT THESHERIFFS OFFICES SAW OUR EVENT AS SOMETHING THEY DIDNT WANT TO DEAL WITH. EXCUSES RANGEDFROM:1 LACK OF MANPOWER2 EVENT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED3 POTENTIAL CROWDS (PROTESTERS)4 AND, OF COURSE, COVIDAT THIS POINT IN THE PLANNING, I REALIZED I SHOULD HAVE ONLY GIVEN EACH SHERIFFS OFFICE A 78-HOUR NOTICE OF THE EVENT ONLY AFTER SECURING THE SUPPORT OF VARIOUS VETERANS GROUPS ANDTHE MEDIA. (BETTER TO ASK FORGIVENESS THAN PERMISSION CONCEPT).AROUND THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, I OFFICIALLY PULLED THE PLUG ON THE PLANNING OF THE 10-YEAR FHAFANNIVERSARY EVENT. IT WAS HARD FOR ME. FEELINGS OF STRONG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CANCELING THEEVENT CAME OVER ME. ALL THAT TIME DOWN THE DRAIN. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE SHARED IT WITH YOUALL, BUT I FELT EMBARRASSED THAT I COULDNT MAKE IT HAPPEN.ANDERSEN CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENTON THE OTHER HAND, THE 2021 FHAF ANDERSEN GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF 2021.ITS INFECTIOUS TO BE AROUND ANDERSEN STAFF THAT GET IT AND APPRECIATE THE FHAF MISSION. ALLTHE DEDICATION AND SKILLED HARD WORK IS INSPIRING. THE GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.MANY FAMILIES OF FALLEN MILITARY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE COMMITMENT AND FAITHFULNESS OF THEEMPLOYEES AND PARTICIPATING SPONSORS OF THE ANDERSEN CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT.GIFTS OF GRATITUDEODDLY, OR NOT SO ODDLY, THERE WERE NO GIFTS OF GRATITUDE AWARDED IN 2021. MAYBE BECAUSE OFCOVID, OR POSSIBLY ALL THE STIMULUS FUNDS CIRCUMVENTED THE NEED. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD G OF GGRANTS THIS YEAR SO NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.