Move America Forward Hosts Packathon to Assemble Care Packages

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - On September 11, 2018, Move America Forward hosted a poignant event commemorating the 17^th anniversary of 9/11, honoring both the victims of terror attacks and the troops on the front lines. Move America Forward, the largest pro-troops grassroots organization in the nation, recently moved their headquarters to Rancho Cordova and combined their grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony with a Packathon committed to assembling care packages for the troops.

In 2004, Melanie Morgan founded Move America Forward to pay homage to active military members and as a message of deep gratitude for their service to our country. Morgan said, “I am deeply humbled and grateful for all of our donors who keep us going and allow us to support our troops by opening their hearts and sponsoring care packages for the troops. And to our volunteers who work countless man hours to pack up these boxes, as well as our sponsors who donate tens of thousands of dollars in products which allows us to keep serving our troops year after year.”

Rancho Cordova Mayor Linda Budge said that the work done by Move America Forward is “a shining example for us all.” Mayor Budge said that the terrible events of 9/11 motivated many more people to enlist in the military because they were so inspired by those brave men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect their fellow Americans.

While deployed overseas, Sergeant James Menard received a care package from Move America Forward. He spoke of how meaningful it is to receive a tangible symbol of love and support from people back home. Menard said, “The power to help those in need has never been more important than it is today. These care packages show our troops that someone at home cares.”

The event’s featured speaker was Richard Hannaford, a 9/11 survivor. He was on the 84^th floor of World Trade Center Tower 2 at the time of the attack. After the first plane hit Tower 1, the first detail he noticed that told him something was wrong was a piece of paper floating by the window. He looked out the window and saw more pieces of paper floating in the air. He looked across to Tower 1 and saw that it was smoking; that was when he knew they had to get out. He described it as “pandemonium.”

Throughout the confusion, Hannaford pushed everyone to keep moving, even when an announcement over the building’s loud speakers said that everything was okay and that employees should return to their desks. It was 9:03 in the morning when his tower was hit. Hannaford and about six others were in the stairwell when they felt the impact. They kept evacuating and around the 20^th floor they began encountering fireman and EMTs rushing up the stairs. “I still remember some of their faces clearly,” said Hannaford. “Some of those men never made it back. It’s our responsibility to remember and honor them and never forget.”

When Hannaford finally reached the street, he said the scene that greeted him is the closest he will ever come to being in a warzone. He said a prayer for the people in Tower 1, some of whom he knew personally. Then, when he about four blocks away, his tower came down.

Hannaford is deeply grateful to be alive, and grateful for the service of the men and women who risk their lives to protect this country. He said, “I think if you don’t remember an event of this magnitude, this wanton and cowardly destruction that targeted innocent people, it could happen again, and that would be really tragic.”

Many volunteers, representatives from the City of Rancho Cordova and the Chamber of Commerce, and 30 troops from the local B.T. Collins U.S. Army Reserve Center attended the event. The Presentation of Colors was enacted by the American Legion Post 233 Color Guard, and the crowd was visibly moved by the display. A large number of elected officials attended the ceremony and presented Move America Forward with Awards and Resolutions recognizing their work. Gold Star Families were given special honors: Diane Layfield, mother of L.Cpl. Travis Layfield, US Marines, killed in action 4/6/2004; Mike Anderson, father of Cpl. Michael D. Anderson Jr., US Marines, killed in action 12/14/2004; and John and Betty Hall, parents of SFC Bryan Hall, US Army, killed in action 4/10/2009.

While Move America Forward sends care packages to all active troops, their main focus is on those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan who don’t have the same resources and who are living in austere conditions. Since Move America Forward was first founded in 2004, they have sent 38,000 tons of food and other items to the troops. At the time of the event, 2,001 care packages were ready to be shipped out, and another 911 were prepared by volunteers after the ceremony.

If you would like to sponsor a care package, please visit www.MoveAmericaForward.org.