Program Announced for 5th Annual 9-11 Freedom Walk

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (www.reaganlibrary.com) is joining forces with MilitaryConnection.com (www.militaryconnection.com) to bring to our city the fifth annual Simi Valley Freedom Walk on Saturday, September 11th.   Please join us as we remember the victims of September 11th, and honor our troops who continue to fight for freedom. 

PROGRAM:

4:15 p.m.         Pre-program musical entertainment
5:00 p.m.         Program begins, which includes:

• Captain James J. McHugh, Commanding Officer, Naval Base Ventura County
• Gary Sinise, actor and founder of the Gary Sinise Charitable Foundation
• Scott Strauss, former Chief of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department. Scott was a New York City Police Officer assigned to the Emergency Services Unit on September 11, 2001. Due to the successful efforts of Scott and his fellow rescue workers, the lives of Port Authority Police Officers Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin were saved that day. Scott and his team were featured in Oliver Stone’s 2006 movie “World Trade Center.”

5:30 p.m.         Walk begins – The 1.8 mile route will begin in the Reagan Library’s courtyard and will conclude at Rancho Madera Community Park off of Wood Ranch Parkway. 

6:00 p.m.         Walk concludes.  Light refreshments will be offered and Air National Guard Band of the Southwest will provide post-program musical entertainment at the park.  Complementary shuttle service will return the participants to their cars at the Library.  

To register, go to www.reaganfoundation.org/events and click on “9-11 Freedom Walk”, or call 805-522-2977.  The first 1,000 people who register for the walk will receive a free “Freedom Walk” t-shirt and an American flag.  

Also, from September 1st through September 30th the Reagan Library, in conjunction with “For The Troops” will be collecting donations for U.S. Soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Library’s main lobby.  Items must be unwrapped and in original packaging, including: packets of trail mix, peanuts, gum, hard candy and beef jerky; snacks that are not heat sensitive and will not melt in hot temperatures; individual packets of lemonade or Crystal Light for water bottles; CDs and DVDs; used video games; AA batteries; stationery; and pre-paid phone cards.  Only miniature hygiene items will be accepted.

The Reagan Library and MilitaryConnection.com would like to thank PrideAmerica as the Major Sponsor of this year’s 9-11 Event.  In addition, we thank the following sponsors for their generous support of this event:

Air National Guard Band of the Southwest; Albertsons; The American Red Cross of Ventura County; The City of Simi Valley; CocaCola Enterprises; Command Performance Catering; Custom Printing; For The Troops; Joint Service Color Guard; Naval Base Ventura County; Navy Band Southwest Brass Quintet; Neptune Productions; Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District; RoadRunner Shuttle and Limousine Service; Starbucks of Simi Valley; Ventura County Fire Department; Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; Westlake High School Vocal Ensemble.

Where: The courtyard of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA