CLARKSVILLE, TN − To recognize National Military Appreciation Month and mark the solemnity of Memorial Day, two Gold Star students and an Army veteran have been honored with the gift of new, payment-free vehicles. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
This presentation highlighted the Driven to Serve program, an initiative between Freedom Alliance and U.S. Bank that pairs available vehicles to military families and service members in need and demonstrates the commitment of each organization to support our nation’s heroes. More than 85 vehicles have been provided by U.S. Bank since 2018 and more than 55 presented in collaboration with Freedom Alliance.
U.S. Army Sgt John Moore received one of the vehicles in a ceremony in Clarksville on May 14 at Serra Chevrolet.
Moore enlisted in the Army in 2004. His first assignment took him to Fort Richardson, Alaska, and soon after, he deployed to Iraq, serving in Mosul, Tal Afar, and Baghdad over a 16-month tour. During a second deployment, Moore was severely injured when an IED exploded beneath his vehicle while on a mission to disrupt insurgent weapons smuggling. The blast broke nearly every bone in his legs, leading to the amputation of his left leg. After two years of recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, John now lives in Charlotte, Tennessee, with his wife, Amy, and their children.
The students who received the vehicles on May 13 in Owensboro, Kentucky, were:
- Micaela Trimble – Micaela’s father, Pfc. Chad M. Trimble, was killed just two months into his deployment to Afghanistan when his convoy encountered an IED on May 28, 2008.
- Parker Madden – Parker’s father, Spc. Russell E. Madden, was killed in action in Afghanistan from a rocket-propelled grenade attack on his convoy on June 23, 2010.
“If Russell Madden and Chad Trimble were here,” said Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, “they would make sure their children had safe, reliable transportation as they pursued their education and launched their careers. Because they made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, it’s our honor to support and care for their families in this meaningful way.”
Freedom Alliance and U.S. Bank are both committed to honoring service members for their dedication and personal sacrifice. In addition to partnering with military service organizations such as Freedom Alliance, U.S. Bank supports veterans and military family members through Proud to Serve, an employee-led business resource group. Through Proud to Serve, each new veteran is personally welcomed by leaders who are also veterans. Employees are also encouraged to use internal social networking forums to connect, network, and share stories. The bank employs more than 1,700 veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members.
| BUSINESS OWNERS: Click here for a free consultation for advertising your business on Clarksville Now