Winchester Virginia Elks Lodge & Shenandoah Valley Young Marines 5/12/10

On May 12 the Winchester Va. Elks lodge Shenandoah Valley Young Marines program performed Color Guard for opening of festivities for the 2010 Congressional Reception GI Film Festival. The unit spent some time speaking with Brigadier General Sutton about her work with post traumatic stress victims. Later, they went to photo ops with Senator John McCain and actor/ director Rick Schroeder.  Mr. Schroeder was in attendance for his work on a film featured during the festival. Ricky Schroeder is the 2010 winner of the GI Spirit Award.  Ricky Schroeder's Grandfather was in WWII and he grew up listening to his stories.  Mr. Schroeder  always loved the US ARMY and have always had a strong desire to help. His life took him on another path which was acting and then more recently directing, writing and producing.  After 9/11 he was determined to get more involved with supporting our troops.  Mr. Schroeder even tried to join the Army, but was denied because of his asthma.  After that he took a trip to visit the wounded soldiers at the military hospital in Germany. 

A year ago, he was in DC and met again with some Army folks at the Pentagon, asking if there was something more he could do?  He realized with his experience in the entertainment business he could do something that would have a big broad reaching positive impact.  He came up with an idea for a TV Show that shows how Army jobs can give you great skills in the world after the Army.  Together with the Army his idea became a reality and by spring 2009 they were shooting what is now called STARTING STRONG. The show takes a potential recruit and gives him/her an up close personal Army experience in the field of his/her choice, and then they are given the option to; "Join the Army or remain a civilian."  

Glenn Close and Pax, the dog, and his family were also introduced to the unit. Ms. Close directed a film, PAX.  Pax tells the story of Sergeant Bill Campbell who returned home from Iraq 100% disabled due to post traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.  Sgt. Campbell reclaims his life from an unlikely source; a dog named Pax, trained by inmate Laurie Kellogg at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women.  Pax follows the meeting of Bill and Laurie for the first time; two people united, by the unconditional love of a dog.

William Molitor

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