** 8-Hour Jerry Lewis Style Telethon This Thursday – June 26th

(SAN FRANCISCO) – An All-Star lineup of celebrities & patriotic leaders are teaming up to support a pro-troop organization’s effort to send the largest shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history.  Names like Rush Limbaugh, Oliver North, Ann Coulter, Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Actor Kelsey Grammer, Comedian Jackie Mason, Sean Hannity, G. Gordon Liddy and Former UN Ambassador John Bolton.

The care package drive is a project of the nation’s largest pro-troop organization, Move America Forward (website: www.MoveAmericaForward.org). The effort will be highlighted by an unprecedented live 8-hour Internet video broadcast called “From the Front Lines” – a ‘web-a-thon’ that will take place this Thursday, June 26, 2008 [4:00pm – Midnight Eastern // 1:00pm – 9:00pm Pacific].  The Jerry Lewis-style telethon will be co-hosted by Move America Forward Chairman, Melanie Morgan, and blogger, author and TV analyst, Michelle Malkin.

On Tuesday, June 24th nationally syndicated talk radio giant, Rush Limbaugh, promoted the effort on his radio show and embraced the concept of using new media to rally Americans behind the noble cause of supporting our military men and women serving overseas.

“It has been wonderful to see how fast these patriotic leaders and celebrities were in committing to join this effort.  Despite the hot, lazy summer days, support for this drive to send a historic shipment of care packages to our troops has snowballed into an unprecedented show of love for our military men and women,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

“Everyday I thank G-d for these wonderful, brave kids who sacrifice themselves for this great country we love.  These men and women are the best soldiers in the world and their work to preserve peace and to protect freedom should never go unappreciated,” said comedian Jackie Mason.

“I have seen first hand how appreciative they are with the care packages I have sent them during this war.  They go out of their way to thank me and tell me how much it meant to them.  I wish they only knew how grateful I am of their service and how I wish I could do more. That is why I am participating, along with other grateful Americans in this web-a-thon, so as a proud nation, we can show our support for the best Americans we have, our troops,” Mason continued.

“U.S. troops are winning the war on terror on the front lines of Iraq & Afghanistan, yet all we see on the TV news and from the politicians in Washington, D.C. is constant criticism and second-guessing,” said nationally syndicated talk radio host, Mark Levin.

“ It’s time to show our troops that the American people recognize the success they have been achieving and thank them for their service to this nation. Let’s flood them with care packages and notes of love and support from the home front - they more than deserve it!” said Levin.

Among those who have signed on to support the effort (most of whom will also appear on Thursday’s “From the Front Lines” Internet telethon) are the following:

• Former First Lady, Nancy Reagan
• The Office of General David Petraeus
• Former UN Ambassador, John Bolton
• Rush Limbaugh
• Ann Coulter
• Sean Hannity
• Dr. Laura Schlessinger
• Lt Col Oliver North (Ret.)
• Actor Kelsey Grammer
• Comedian Jackie Mason
• Singer John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting)
• Laura Ingraham
• Mark Levin
• Monica Crowley
• Mike Gallagher
• Melanie Morgan
• Michelle Malkin
• Rich Lowry - National Review
• Kathryn Lopez - NationalReviewOnline
• Jed Babbin - Human Events
• Joseph Farah - WorldNetDaily
• Matt Lewis - TownHall.com
• Ron Kessler - Newsmax
• Kyle-Anne Shiver - American Thinker
• Navy Cross Recipient Marcus Luttrell
• NBC’s America’s Favorite Mom - Patti Patton-Bader
• Cliff May - Foundation for Defense of Democracies
• Larry Bailey, Chairman of Gathering of Eagles
• Julie DeMaria, Operation Care & Comfort
• Iraq War Veteran - Pete Hegseth, Vets For Freedom
• Gold Star Mother, Debbie Lee
• Gold Star Father, Mike Anderson
• Gold Star Father, Mark Crowley
• Gold Star/Blue Star Parents Joe & Jan Johnson
• Bev Perlson, Band of Mothers
• MilBlogger Matt Sanchez
• Vietnam War Veteran & Author, Ron Winter
• Brian Sussman - KSFO, San Francisco
• Michael Graham - WTKK, Boston
• Mark Williams - WROW, Albany
• Roger Hedgecock - KOGO, San Diego
• Martha Zoller - WDUN, Gainesville/Atlanta
• Kylie Williams, Miss Florida 2007
• Radio Talk Show Host, G. Gordon Liddy

Move America Forward is hoping to ship upwards of 25 TONS of care packages when the drive is complete.  The massive shipment will be picked up by special U.S. Postal Service trucks from the care package assembling facility located at the Retrolodge complex located at the intersection of 11th & H streets in Downtown Sacramento, California.

Care packages will include a mix of goodies from home and personal comfort items including:  Gatorade, beef jerky, ground coffee, cookies, sunblock, personal electric fans, insect repellant, foot powder, wet wipes, deodorant/antiperspirant, lip balm, music cds, and specially packaged bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans – for U.S. troops to hand out to the children of Iraq & Afghanistan as part of a “Candy Diplomacy” program.

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(SACRAMENTO) – A historic “candy diplomacy” program has been launched by a Sacramento-based pro-troop organization that will provide U.S. Troops with 100,000 bags of the popular Jelly Belly gourmet jelly beans for distribution to the children and people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The delicious candy treats made famous by Ronald Reagan are being sent over as additions to care packages for our troops, as part of a program called “Candy Diplomacy.” The innovative program is the result of a partnership between the nation’s largest pro-troop organization, Move America Forward (website: www.MoveAmericaForward.org ), and the Fairfield, California-based Jelly Belly Candy Company (website: www.JellyBelly.com).

This effort is in conjunction with Move America Forward’s current push to send the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history.

Commenting about the benefits of the new “Candy Diplomacy” program, Nancy Reagan said of her husband, “he would often break the ice in meetings by passing around his jar of Jelly Bellys.  It had a way of putting a smile on everyone’s face and putting them in the mod to work cooperatively.  I know the Iraqi and Afghani people will feel the warmth and goodness of the American people when they get to try these treats.”

Each 2 oz. bag of gourmet jelly beans (which include the favorite flavors of Iraqi and Afghani children) has the following message printed in both English and Arabic:

“A gift from the American people in hope
that your country will one day
enjoy the freedom and opportunities
that we have in the United States.”

The “Candy Diplomacy” program came to life thanks to the inspiration provided by President Ronald Reagan.  As a champion of the cause of freedom for all people, Reagan’s vision of helping spread the seeds of freedom was never dampened as he proudly presented America as the “shining city on a hill.”

Herman Rowland, President of the Jelly Belly Candy Company, said, “we have been long associated with Ronald Reagan and his love of our Jelly Bellys, and we are honored to advance his vision of freedom for the world by our gift.”

As Reagan himself said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

He pursued foreign policy by making personal friendships with both our allies and adversaries, creating a climate of trust that enabled him to change the course of history and bring more freedom to the world than it has ever known.  It is only fitting that we would use his favorite candy as a treat for American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to use to make friends with the people of those war-torn nations.

Thanks to a generous gift from the Jelly Belly Candy Company last year, Reagan’s favorite candy was shipped by Move America Forward in care packages to U.S. troops as part of Christmas & Hanukkah care packs from home.  Move America Forward immediately heard back from the troops with requests to please send more of the jelly beans – but not for their consumption, but to be given to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. The candy treats were a big hit, and helped strengthen the bonds of trust and friendship between Iraqi and Afghani residents and U.S. troops during their patrols.

“We are grateful to the Jelly Belly Corporation for helping to provide our troops another tool to enhance their missions in Iraq,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

“Ronald Reagan’s favorite treat is today becoming a favorite treat of thousands of Iraqi and Afghani children who share the thirst of freedom that Reagan realized was a burning flame that flickered within the soul of all good men and women,” Morgan said.

Above Photo Courtesy of The White House
Front page: Former First Lady Nancy Reagan delivers her remarks at the homeporting ceremony for USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Calif. (Photo Courtesy the Department of Defense)