We Do Care - Supporting and Thanking out Troops! About Us

(June 8, 2005) Just weeks away from the Second Annual Freedom Festival, event organizers from the We-Do-Care organization (www.we-do-care.org) announce their line June 26th event at Barrington�s Langendorf Park. Created to inspire, educate and entertain, this event is dedicated to supporting U.S. soldiers and their families.

�The festival has real momentum this year�with our entertainment line up and the overwhelming support we have from regional and national organizations who want become part of this movement to support our soldiers and their families,� announced Dirk Beveridge, president of the Barrington-based, non-profit organization. �This will be an historic event for the Northwest suburbs and we anticipate 3-5,000 guests to this year�s event, tripling that of last year�s attendance.�

On-air WLS-AM News Talk 890 radio personality, Eileen Byrne will lend her eloquent gift for entertaining mass audiences to the festival�s center stage as the event�s entertainment host. Additionally, WLS-AM Newstalk Radio will broadcast The Terri O�Brien Show live from the Second Annual Freedom Festival.

Kicking off the mainstage entertainment at 11am, world reknowned US Army Jazz Ambassadors have a reputation for delighting audiences of all ages. Since 1969, this 19-piece member band is considered the Army�s premier touring jazz orchestra.

Country music�s newest rising star, Keni Thomas and his band, Cornbread will take main stage at 1:15 p.m. to perform songs from their latest CD, Flags Of Our Fathers � A Soldier�s Story. A former Army Ranger and member of the elite Task Force Ranger assault unit, Thomas was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his service in Somalia.

Also on the main stage, local Bataille Academie of the Danse and the Spirit of the USO Band will cap off the days events beginning at 3:30pm with spirited dance and music. The USO band will lead the audience in participating in the finale, allowing video cameras to capture the mass of citizens waving flags and singing a patriotic song in honor of our heroes.

�Families are first at the Freedom Festival so we have put together great family acts and dozens of activities children will enjoy,� explains Beveridge. The Kids Care tent offers children an opportunity create cards and messages for soldiers overseas. Climbing Walls, Moonwalks, face painting and military vehicles have been deployed to keep children entertained.

The Freedom Festival offers multiple opportunities for guests to support soldiers and their families at the CARE VILLAGES through participating service organizations who provide needed support to active military service people, their families and to veterans. Support opportunities include adopting a soldier through Soldiers Angels or a local USO center, raising funds for the Pentagon Memorial Fund and supporting the soldiers and families of the local reserve unit, A133 Signal Battalion. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Video Greeting Card that will not only capture words of thanks and support but scenes of the day�s events as well. These video �cards� will be distributed to various camps throughout the world.

Between main stage performances, guests will have the opportunity to win autographed memorabilia from We-Do-Care organization�s newest celebrity supporter, Mia Hamm. Ms. Hamm is unable to attend but sends her support. A 2005 USO Harley-Davidson will also be on display and guests can purchase a chance to win the motorcycle.

�The Freedom Festival provides all of us�including Mia Hamm�with an opportunity reach out, touch and support our soldiers, their families and their friends in a meaningful and tangible way,� explains Beveridge.

Like Ms. Hamm, U.S. Army Colonel Jill Morgenthaler is the daughter of a veteran and a supporter of Freedom Festival: �As a daughter of a Vietnam vet, I saw my father come home to a nation that didn�t care�that hurt him and it hurt me. The 135,000 soldiers who are serving our country need to know we are all behind them and that is why it is so important to attend the Freedom Festival.�

Throughout the day, speakers representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will provide updates on the war on Terrorism and share stories of importance of supporting and thanking our troops. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan will be in attendance.

The Second Annual Freedom Festival will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Barrington�s Langendorf Park (235 Lions Drive). Parking is available at the park, but guests are encouraged to avoid congestion and park at the Barrington Metra Commuter train station and ride the 3 minute Nationwide Hospitality shuttle bus to the Freedom Festival.

The We-Do-Care organization is a non-profit, non-political, grassroots organization founded by Barrington area residents committed to finding appropriate ways of showing appreciation and support to those who serve. For more information, guests should call Dirk Beveridge at (847)381-7797 or visit the website, www.we-do-care.org.

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