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October 30, 2008
Purdue, state libraries to celebrate Our Heroes' Tree program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University will host an event Nov. 7 at the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis to commemorate the partnership between Purdue and libraries across the state to launch Our Heroes' Tree, a program designed to honor veterans and their families.The institute has partnered with 124 libraries in communities around the state, which are hosting trees in their library. Community members create ornaments to hang on the tree to honor and recognize the contributions of current and former service members. The trees will be on display in participating libraries through early November.
Officials at the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public, will include Victor Lechtenberg, vice provost for engagement at Purdue; Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard; Roberta Brooker, director of the Indiana State Library; and Dennis A. Savaiano, dean of Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences.
During the event, Lechtenberg, Umbarger, program co-founder Marlene Lee and three children representing families who have members serving in the military will hang an ornament on one of the trees.
The event also will celebrate the Virtual Heroes' Tree, an interactive online initiative Purdue started.
"Indiana is the first state in the nation to add a virtual component to the Our Heroes' Tree program," said Kathy Broniarczyk, director of outreach for the Military Family Research Institute. "It has been well-received by libraries and communities around the state. The Virtual Heroes' Tree gives the state program more of a national scope."
The national Our Heroes' Tree program was started in 2005 by Lee and Stephanie Pickup to bring groups together to recognize military service and to increase the availability of resources to support veterans, service members and their families.
Lee wrote "The Hero in My Pocket," a book for children affected by the loss of a service member. Pickup led an Army Family Readiness Group for more than two years.
Anyone interested in attending the ceremony should contact Samantha Lacy at slucy@purdue.edu or (765) 496-6027.
Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Source: Samantha Lucy, (765) 496-6027, slucy@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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