Kansas State Collegian    2/01/03

by April Middleton

Family of K-State alumni helps revive war bonds

   It was 1944, and many Americans were looking for ways to support their country during World War II.

   Five-year-old Randi Dale's contribution was dressing as Uncle Sam and promoting War Bonds.

   More than 50 Years later, Dale, a Manhattan resident and K-State graduate, is wearing the costume again.

   Now, however, she is joined by her daughter, Susan Dale and granddaughter, Anastasia Richardson.

   Collectively, they call themselves the Freedom Girls. Their mission is to promote the newly renamed Patriot Bonds.

   "Common people have the right to invest in America," Susan, a K-State graduate, said. " The only way we can do that is with savings bonds."

   Patriot Bonds are Series EE savings bonds purchased through financial institutions or over the Internet at the Savings Bonds Direct Web site, www.publicdept.treas.gov.

    Proceeds from the sale of all treasury securities, including Patriot bonds, are deposited in the general fund and spent according to law. The funds will contribute to the recovery and war efforts.

    The bonds can be purchased in denominations of $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1000, $5000 and $10,000. The purchase price is one-half the face amount. For example, a $100 Patriot Bonds cost $50.

    $1.98 million in Patriot Bonds were sold in the first year.

    Susan Credits her then 5-year-old daughter, Anastasia, for the revival of the Freedom Girls.

    A Few weeks after Sept 11, Susan was watching TV with her daughter when coverage of the attacks and the New York firefighters come on.

    She tried to change the channel, but Anastasia asked her not to.

    "She said she wanted to be a fireman, because she wanted to help those people," Susan said. " I was so pleased that she understood the firefighters were heroes and the people in New York needed help."

    Susan said all she could think of was the cover of " Popular Photography" that her mother appeared on to promote War Bonds during WWII.

    Randi, who was a child model, said the war bond cover was one of the only photos she remembers taking as a child.

    "And I remember walking through Brand Central Station and seeing my picture plastered everywhere," she said. " I remember being really excited about it at that age."

    Susan found a black and white copy of the cover and showed it to Anastasia.

    " This is you grandma,' I told her, 'and this is how she helped, '" Susan said.

    "Anastasia told me that's what she was going to do- sell war bonds just like her grandma."

    At that time, there were no war bonds.

    A few days later, though CNN reported that President Bush wanted to reinstate them.

    Susan started calling the Treasury Department and Congressmen to tell them they were volunteering  their images to the department to promote the bonds.

     " They told me that as Americans we could do whatever we wanted to, but they themselves were not actively promoting the bonds," she said.

    So, the trio has been trying to create the bonds on their own.

    The Freedom Girls have also created a $10 promotional poster. They hope to use the proceeds to create inspirational war-bond postcards to U.S. soldiers stationed overseas. They also held a Patriot Bond drive at the State Fair in Oklahoma.

    Anastasia and Susan also are present at deployments near Tulsa- where they live- to let the solders know their efforts and work are appreciated.

    It hasn't been cheap for them to do, though, Susan said.

    So For, they have spent over $13,000 of their own money.

    She works three jobs now to help the group fund the promotions. It doesn't seen to be enough sometimes, though, she said.

    I'll sell M &M on the sidewalk if I have to," she said. " That's how important this is to me."

    And since January, the Freedom Girls are facing a new challenge, Randi said.

    The Treasury Department's Bureau of the Public Debt has submitted a request to eliminate program funding for the savings bonds marketing and investor education program beginning Oct. 1.

    Susan said after that bonds will go completely electronic. And volunteers would not be able to promote them.

    "We are trying to save the bonds," she said . "My 6-year-old daughter know this is important, and I hope the rest of America does too."