About My Soldier Cont'd

My Soldier was launched at a Veteran’s Day press conference on the Manhattanville campus in November 2004. The program, an initiative lead by student and active duty Army 2LT Juan Salas, is a non-politically affiliated way to support the troops and acknowledge the sacrifices they are making for us. By writing letters and sending occasional care packages, civilians contribute to the morale and quality of life for troops while serving on hardship tours. Though the war experience changed his life, today Salas is back home on campus, playing soccer and going to classes. For Salas, the My Soldier program is a way to give something to his fellow soldiers who are still in Iraq.

Participation is not limited to Manhattanville College, but is open to the public. In fact, it was the goal of the program to have participants from all 50 states “We had registrants from 43 states after one week and met our goal of all 50 within one month,” said the program’s co-founder Anne Gold. More than 400,000 people have joined Manhattanville My Soldier program so far, reaching more than 175,000 men and women who are serving our country.

Civilian participants come from both sides of the red/blue divide and include Vietnam Vets, parents of soldiers, Canadian citizens, and students from other colleges. Most common among the many new groups participating are families, scout troops, and school classrooms. There are also churches, a Key Club, women’s leadership groups, a Wal-Mart, police stations, firehouses, a chiropractor’s office and an AARP group.

My Soldier is reminiscent of the POW/MIA bracelet program that was launched on Veteran's Day, 1970. That campaign was the brainchild of two college students in Los Angeles who were looking for ways young people could support soldiers overseas without becoming involved in the controversy surrounding the war.

Along with the president of Manhattanville, Richard Berman, Salas and Gold came up with the idea for their own bracelet support project, as the sergeant was looking for a way to connect his two worlds.

''We were just brainstorming and just thought a pen pal and bracelet program was the perfect fit,'' said Ms. Gold, who pulled her Vietnam-era bracelet out of her jewelry box last summer, as the war in Iraq continued. “We also took a cue from the yellow Live Armstrong bracelets that Juan saw many of his fellow students wearing."

The popularity of the P.O.W. bracelet crossed political lines in the 70's because it focused on individuals, said Mr. Berman, who was a student at the University of Michigan at the time. ''It's important that this happens at a college campus,'' he said. ''It's a time for us to come to common ground. Wherever you are on the war, there is support and commitment to the men and women in the services. That’s what we hope will happen at Manhattanville and across the country. Wearing the bracelet will be a reminder that serviceman are making sacrifices for democracy right now.”

“We pledged to find a pen pal for every U.S. soldier who wanted one and to distribute bracelets to the civilian participants,” explains Salas. The bracelets are not for sale. Rather they are available to anyone who signs up for the program and promises to participate. Juan hopes to get the message out about the dignity and conviction of his comrades, which he witnessed firsthand.

“At first all I wanted was to reach out to guys that I know, members of my platoon I served in, to let them know somebody back home is thinking about them. I am thrilled and honored that we have more people and soldiers sign up every day and that we have been able to let so many brave service members know that somebody back home cares.”