TIME & TEMP BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA     Honor Your Soldier click here         Welcome to  OMAD Operation Military Appreciation Day brought to you by the Monroe County Fair Board You or your organization can be a sponsor for 2008 Operation Military Appreciation Day! Operation Military Appreciation Day (OMAD) is a day to honor, celebrate, and recognize our Military and Veterans and their families for their service.   FREE Admission ! Free T shirts first 200 Warrior's Walk registrations                              !! OMAD 2007 Pictures                                  <Click Here>   The Warriors Walk is a way to take steps toward a deeper  awareness of our military and to march together as a community in support of their work.     Become A Sponsor In exchange for your generous contribution of $200 or more, you can join this list of supporters, reminding people of the importance of Military and the sacrifice they make for our country.      WISHTV 8    Veterans, Active Service Members Recognized During Operation Military Appreciation Day   WISHTV 8       REGISTER YOUR SOLDIER and ATTENDING FAMILY MEMBERS to be Recognized & Honored in our OMAD ceremonies!  <<CLICK HERE>>   OPERATION MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY (OMAD) Sunday, November 11, 2007  1:30pm-6pm at the Monroe County Fairgrounds   Dear Soldier, Military Family Member, or Supporter of the Soldiers & their families,  Together, representatives of Veteran/Military groups such as The American Legion, AMVETS, VFW, Civil Air Patrol, and the 2nd Battalion 150th Field Artillery HHSB Family Readiness Group have created a special event for the Military (Home front, Veterans, and currently serving). This event is titled Operation Military Appreciation Day (OMAD).  OMAD is a day to honor, celebrate, and recognize our Military, Veterans, and their families for their service and sacrifice.  We will be hosting the American Legion Blue Star ceremony, as well as our own Red, White, & Blue ceremony during this exciting & fun-filled event! We would like to present the soldiers and their family members with an award and salute them in appreciation of the service and sacrifice they are contributing. There is NO COST to anyone who attends!  We only ask that each military family register and be present to participate in the ceremony during which they will receive their awards and recognition. In order to receive their awards and recognition during this exciting event, each family will need to fill out the ceremony registration form and submit it.   Please have all registrations to us by Oct 29th. (Any awards and gifts that are registered for but not claimed during our ceremonies will be donated to help defer the costs of next year’s event and will not be available for pick-up after the events.) Their part in the ceremony will entail them coming forward during the ceremony to receive the awards, gifts, and recognition. (Uniform is optional for military personnel & restrooms will be available if they would like to change into or out of uniform before or after the event)  The ceremonies will begin at 4:00pm.  Family members will need to arrive at the ceremony site at least 30 minutes early.               The day’s festivities will include the ceremonies mentioned above as well as several other exciting & fun events (see the schedule of events page) such as a Warrior’s Walk, a benefit auction (live auction including Colts Peyton Manning autographed item, travel vouchers, jewelry, and more!), vendor booths, and a children’s carnival.   The Army will be displaying the Army NASCAR and will be operating the Army Rock Climbing Wall; there will be performances by the Bloomington Brass Band and the Bloomington North Choir, and special appearances by Peggy Welch, the Monroe County Fair Queen, and other distinguished guests! The Warriors Walk is a symbolic walk that is approximately 1/2 mile in length and is a way for our community to take steps toward a deeper awareness of our Military while we walk together showing our support and appreciation for their service and sacrifice.   The walk will be led by the “Horse of the Fallen Soldier”, followed by the walk participants.  Each person that would like to participate needs to fill out a Warrior’s Walk registration form either online at www.omadbloomington.com, or just prior to the walk at the registration table(Free T-Shirt given to first 200 registrants).  Each walker may, if they wish, carry a sign to pay tribute to the soldier of their choice.   If you would like to participate and carry a sign, you will be able to make one just prior to the walk.  Please feel free to bring copies of photos or memorabilia to attach to your sign, or feel free to bring your own pre-made sign.  If you will be pre-making your sign, please be sure that you will be able to carry it independently for the duration of the 1/2 mile outdoor walk.                        OMAD event day is a day to celebrate our soldiers, our military families, and the generous people who are part of this Indiana community. All proceeds will benefit Roudebush Veteran’s Hospital, the 2nd Battalion 150th Field Artillery HHSB Family Readiness Group which sends packages to deployed soldiers overseas and supports their family members during their deployment, and next year’s OMAD event day.   If you know of anyone who would be interested in helping to sponsor this years event, please direct them to our website www.omadbloomington.com for more information!  A $200.00 sponsorship will get your business name on the back of the Warrior’s Walk T-Shirt, booth space during the event, a listing on the program, etc.. (Sponsorships must be received by Oct 25th to be on the T-Shirt)  We as a community appreciate the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make while serving our country.  Together, their efforts make the United States of America a better place!  We would be honored to have as many of them as possible attend this event as we feel they and their family members are all true American Heroes!  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask by emailing me at jennifer.lynne.tracy@us.army.mil or by calling me at 812-339-5618.   Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the event! Best Regards,     Jennifer Tracy OMAD Coordinator   REGISTER YOUR SOLDIER and ATTENDING FAMILY MEMBERS to be Recognized & Honored in our OMAD ceremonies! <<CLICK HERE>>   Thanks to the generous donations from our Sponsors, there will be no admission charges for Operation Military Appreciation Day. The first 200 people to register for the Warriors Walk will receive free shirts with the Sponsor's name printed on the back. These t-shirts can be seen around Bloomington even after the event as a continious reminder of the sacrifice our military and their families continue to make it also will point out your commitment to this community project. Sponsors will be recognized in our promotional materials: newspaper, radio and on display at the event.   Events Blue Star Salute Kids Coloring Contest Red, White & Blue Salute Warrior's Walk Registration Sponsorship Information             Become a Sponsor  Sponsorships Accepted Until November 4th   OMAD Bloomington, Indiana jenny@omadbloomington.com