Operation never forgotten

Bob Conradi

Bob Conradi

Staff Writer

Linda Kelly was the wife of a career Navy man and mother of a Marine. As she was mourning the loss of Shane O’Donnell, a fallen member of her son’s company in Iraq, she was inspired to use her graphic arts skills to help heighten awareness of America’s military heroes.

And so began Operation Never Forgotten.

Kelly created billboards that were displayed nationwide as public service announcements by the major U.S. digital billboard companies, CBS, Lamar and Clear Channel. She also arranged to have ads displayed in the airports across the country. These signs poignantly reminded Americans of deployed troops, of wounded warriors and of fallen heroes.

To assist in her mission, she recruited John Kinzinger, a Vietnam Veteran active in the Ann Arbor Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 423. Kinzinger recruited a recovering wounded warrior, John Lockwood of Saline, whom he met through his involvement with VFW. Kinzinger became vice president of the organization while Lockwood was named Wounded Warrior Campaign Director. Kelly calls them “John Senior and John Junior.”

For more information

Address

Operation Never Forgotten
PO Box 132, Saline, MI 48176

Operation Never Forgotten website
For volunteer opportunities:
Volunteer at Operation Never Forgotten
To contribute:
Contribute to Operation Never Forgotten

These three, along with other board members, expanded the mission of ONF to new venues, including TV and radio spots. In 2007, the group recruited singer Lee Greenwood, of “God Bless the USA” fame, as spokesman for their cause.

Over the years, ONF has formed numerous alliances with other organizations that support our troops and their families. In January, with the help of these new partners, they initiated a completely different kind of operation, the Sports Afield and Stream Project.

Wounded warriors and their families met together in Bozeman, Mont., to hear tributes to their heroism, attend workshops and participate in adventure sports. The outdoor activities included dog sledding, ice climbing, skiing, snowboarding, hunting and dressing game.

Many of the warriors participated with less than the full contingent of limbs most have at their disposal in pursuit of these activities. In spite of handicaps, the wounded soldiers loved the opportunity to challenge themselves in outdoor adventures.

“They thought this event of ours was better than any they had ever been to,” Kelly said. “We gave them what they want: comradeship, a challenge, extreme sports and outdoor recreation.”

Inspirational speakers at the event included Marc Hoffmeister, who, with a team of fellow wounded warriors, summited Denali (formerly called Mount McKinley) in 2009.

Other speakers were Tim Medvetz, who became a world-class mountaineer after surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident, and Sam Kavanagh, a Paralympic Games athlete.

Donations to make this event happen came from Big Sky Resort, many adventure gear companies and private individuals. These donors helped pay for flights, food and ground transportation.

In 2012, ONF will sponsor a second SAS event, this time in the summer season. In the meantime, its efforts will continue to remind us through billboards and public service announcements of the sacrifices being made for our freedom.

November 7th, 2011 | Category: Community, Feaure, News
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