Story by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jayme Pastoric
JTF Guantanamo Public Affairs
Original Article Here

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (Aug. 15, 2008) - Words like integrity, honor, loyalty and personal courage are used to describe the core values of the men and women in the Armed Services of the United States.

These core values also are the foundation for “We Do Care,” an organization that shares our values and a commitment to honoring those in uniform.

“This race is all about you who wear the cloth of our nation,” said Dirk Beveridge organization president. “We want you all to have a fun yet challenging race, knowing that hundreds of individuals will be running right along side you – it just so happens that we’ll be running the same race 1,600 miles away.”

“We Do Care” is a non-political grass roots organization that developed the Freedom Run when Beveridge visited Guantanamo Bay on a U.S. Southern Command event this past April. Beveridge, working with Army Capt. Kim Kleiman and others, asked if it is possible to have a simultaneous run here, as they have held the 9.11-mile event for years in the organization’s Barrington, Ill. home base.

“A key reason we have introduced the Freedom Run this year is to broaden our message and marketing to reach and attract individuals and groups who do not already know about ‘We Do Care’ and our Freedom Festival, or who are not the early adopters in terms of supporting and thanking our troops,” said Beveridge. “We are continually striving to find new ways to reach more people so that we can remind them that others are giving selflessly and that there are ways that they can support and thank those who wear the uniform.”

In accordance with the 5th Annual Family Freedom Festival in Chicago, the Freedom Run has a simple mission: Run to remember.

The Freedom Run is a chance for the JTF to share a positive moment of support and remembrance with family and friends in the states.

“We are proud of all those that serve and we want them to know that,” said Beveridge. “It is our little way of giving back to those who give so much.”

Beveridge hopes those at Guantanamo Bay to Chicago, and the surrounding area, will reach out to their families and let them know that they can run the race (either the 9.11 mile or 5.6 mile run/walk) free of charge.

Beveridge also adds that the festival is not only talk about the global war on terror and what everyone sees on the news but emphasizes the goodness in our military, the humanitarian work and their role in the global war on terrorism.


Back to News