Freedom Girls For Bonds
    By Susan Dale Tulsa Today 12/15/02   www.tulsatoday.com

President John F. Kennedy defined challenge of citizenship not as what individuals collect, but rather what we contribute to the country. It’s not just flag waving, but help when help is needed that shows true patriotism. Today, our help is needed. For the first time since World War II the United States Government has issued War Bonds, but they seem to be faltering out of the gate.

Congress authorized an EE Savings Bond called the Patriot Bond in early December of 2001. But since the initial news coverage, the Treasury Department has been strangely silent. By all accounts no budget is established, no agency hired, nor Hollywood stars are currently recruited to help promote sales.

If the United States finances the War on Terror without issuing additional debt then taxpayers save paying interest, avoid deficit spending, and keep the economy strong. We can do that together if we buy Patriot Bonds. For the details on Patriot Bonds, check the US Treasury web site, http://www.savingsbonds.gov.

Regardless, the best reason to buy is patriotism. America was attacked several times by insane barbarians killing our innocent people. My five-year-old Anastasia does not understand much, but she understands heroes – soldiers, police, and firefighters. Anastasia can understand buying a savings bond for a fixed term to help our nation. She likes the feeling of doing her part and it gives me a tool as a parent to talk with her and listen to her.

Maybe I would have ignored the news and the Patriot Bonds if it weren’t for my mother, Randi Dale. In 1944 she was a five-year-old model featured in a Popular Photography Magazine cover photo wearing an Uncle Sam costume and promoting World War II Bond sales.

She says it is the only photo she remembers being taken as a child. Later, she remembers going to Grand Central Station and seeing her picture everywhere. Mom also remembers an interview with the new media of the time, television. It was a New York station, but mom doesn’t think that many people saw her story because not that many people had television.

Mom told me about rallies she attended to promote the sale of the bonds as I was growing up. Her picture and stories flashed to mind as I saw the news on the new Patriot Bonds.

Within a week, we held the first contemporary rally in the country to promote bond sales on December 17, 2001. We made our own Uncle Sam costumes and asked neighborhood businesses to donate promotional items and coupons. Arvest Bank sent people to staff a table and handle the sales. Mom traveled to Tulsa from her home in Kansas and the rally was held at 101st and Sheridan in front of my store.

Mom, Anastasia and myself in costume just talk with people. We ask people to buy Patriot Bonds, to remember our neighbors in military service, and to celebrate patriotism. Together, we call ourselves the Freedom Girls and we have a great time. This is not a career for us, but a temporary mission to serve our country as best we can in a time of need.

It has been expensive. In total to date, I have spent over $13,000. We have made posters to help promote Patriot Bond sales and I spend time with effort rather than taking care of my small dance supply shop. Fortunately, I have a great staff that covers for me when I am out.

Out we hope to be more often. If you have a club or social group that would like a presentation on Patriot Bonds, please call. If you have contact with any media that would do a story on this effort, please have them call. If you could help fund our effort to get the word out, we would gratefully appreciate any gift. This is not for our own fame, but for the country and if some think we look a little silly or un-cool – so be it. We love the United States of America.

One of the Tulsa County political parties invited us to appear at their booth at the Tulsa State Fair. It was exhausting to smile, shake hands and talk with so many hundreds of people. At first some of the political volunteers also working in the booth were offended we were there. They didn’t understand that we do not appear for our own gain, but to promote Patriotism and at this outing help people register to vote. After they worked with us for a while, the same volunteer who at first suggested we should pay half the rent for the booth gave me a hug and said she understood.

At that same outing, one member of the other political party read me the riot act for appearing at the booth. Funny thing, we would have appeared at their party’s booth if asked. Later, some of his fellow party worker came by to apologize. I told them we understand how some may think there is a hidden agenda, but they are wrong. Our effort is a non-political, non-profitable individual effort to promote the greatest country in the world from the heart of America – Tulsa, Oklahoma.

What touches our hearts often at public appearances is the number of veterans who visit with us and thank us for this work. The families of servicemen currently on active duty also take time to thank us. One said it seems like her neighbors have forgotten that her husband is at war for them. I gave her a hug and said all Americans know, but our appreciation, honor, concern and compassion is not usually news worthy

In the rush of daily life, it is easy to forget to express gratitude and hard to hear it if you are serving overseas. We know it may be an impossible mission, but we hope the entire country will buy Patriot Bonds and make such a noise doing so that Bin Lauden hiding in his cave, wherever that may be, will hear about it. That is what the Freedom Girls are working to accomplish.

More innocent U.S. Civilians died in the attack on September 11, 2001 than in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but rather than fall apart, America came together with other civilized nations to fight terror just as we came together to fight World War II. That makes us very proud of our fellow citizens, our country and the world. I know you feel the same and I ask you again to show that pride and buy Patriot Bonds today from any financial institution or online from , http://www.savingsbonds.gov.

God Bless America and thank you.