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Below is an article that ran in the Tulsa World. By Amanda Fite 01/30/02 Tulsa World Susan Dale has joined
her mother and daughter in a three-generation effort to promote patriotic
purchases across the United States. On Dec. 17, 2001 —
less than a week after Treasury Department Secretary Paul O’Neill announced
the availability of “Patriot” savings bonds — Randi Dale, daughter Susan,
and Susan’s daughter Anastasia Richardson teamed for what the family called
the first war bond drive since World War II. Dubbing themselves
“The Freedom Girls,” Randi, Susan and Anastasia donned patriotic costumes
and gave away promotional packages to those who bought the special Series EE
savings bonds during the drive. “The funds raised
by the bonds, while not earmarked for a specific purpose, will contribute to the
federal government’s overall effort to fight the war on global terrorism,”
according to the Treasury Department’s release announcing the bonds. The event was held at
Village South shopping center, 101st Street and Sheridan Road, where Susan
operates Quest Dance Shop. Arvest Bank at Village South sold the bonds, which
are available at all financial institutions. “We were thrilled
to be a part of something like that,” said Meredith West, Arvest’s director
of marketing. West said 50 to 60 of
the savings bonds, which are available at half of face value in denominations
ranging from $50 to $10,000, were sold through Arvest that day. At press time, West
said Arvest could not provide hard numbers on the total value of bonds sold
during the drive. However, she said,
“it was definitely worth being out there.” The reasons for “being
out there” run even deeper for The Freedom Girls, which is why Susan said they’re
hoping to continue nationwide with the only war bond drive they know of —
their own. In 1944, Randi was 5
and working as a child model in New York City when she made the cover of Popular
Photography, promoting war bond sales. She remembers being
interviewed by a television station and seeing the magazine’s photo of her “everywhere”
at Grand Central Station. “As a child during
World War II, I did not realize the impact of war until later,” she said last
week. “(But) as an adult and a product of that era, (I know) we must fight
terrorism and show a unified front or, in a way, the Taliban will have won.” She added that war
bonds back then were not earmarked for a specific purpose either, but people
knew it meant helping the government do its job. “It’s going to
cost us a lot of money to continue to fight,” added
Randi. “This (bond) can
help.” Susan, born during
the Vietnam War, said her family has both strong military and patriotic
traditions. Inspired by Randi’s stories and the news Patriot bonds were being
issued, Susan said the family talked about a way to help with sales. She sees
the bond drive as being of tremendous importance. “What are the two
things we’re doing right now? Fighting the war and rebuilding the economy,”
she said. Susan and Randi also
discussed how Anastasia is now the age her grandmother was when she promoted war
bonds. “It’s kind of
spooky,” said Susan, “but it happened for a reason.” Anastasia wants to be
part of the bond drive because “she knows she’s helping people,” her
mother said. But, Susan said, The
Freedom Girls need the help and support of the public to continue with their
efforts. She’s contacted state and national media, seeking bookings on talk
shows, news programs or in any venue that can inform the public about Patriot
bonds. “And we’re hoping
magazines will give us space in their advertisements,” said Susan. “We’re not making
money off the bonds,” she added. “They have to go to a bank to buy them.” The Freedom Girls
would jump at a chance to be on Jay Leno’s talk show, Susan said, and “we’d
love Anastasia to sell a war bond to the president.” Although Susan is
still waiting to hear from most of the media contacts, the editor of the
Florida-based newsletter “Brothers of Nam” has responded to “the girls”
positively — and with praise. “I think what they
are trying to do is a very worthy project and has many more implications than
raising money for the war effort,” said John Eagle “Doc” Smith, a disabled
Vietnam veteran. “Sept. 11 changed
America, and the change could have gone either way,” he continued. “But,
through the resolve of Americans such as these ‘Freedom Girls,’ America has
chosen to unite, to rebuild and to fight. ... I cannot think of an easier way,
for a non-wealthy person such as myself, to invest in America than by ... buying
Patriot bonds.” And the public can
also help The Freedom Girls to repeat some family history. Susan said Popular
Photography has indicated a recreation of Randi’s 1944 photo — with
Anastasia as the model — is possible in July, if enough people contact them
with support for the project. Amanda Fite, World staff writer, can be reached at 665-8093 or via e-mail at amanda.fite@tulsaworld.com |
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