Did the…….

Are press released planned for this year and just haven’t gone out yet, or is that idea nixed?

I’d recommend sending a press release to the AP’s office in Concord so, at the very least, it gets on their daybook — a daily listing of events of media interest. In addition, I’d recommend sending it to the bigger newspapers in New Hampshire– the Union Leader, Concord Monitor and the like — and The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

We may find as time goes on that this event gets less media attention. For example, I wouldn’t be surprised if this year, there is photographic media but no print. This is not to diminish the event, it is simply a reality that events that are no longer “new” will get less coverage. I, for one, don’t care about the media attention — to me, it’s more important to get in the mountains and memorialize those who died and those who are left behind.

Since Dirt Girl did such a great job on updating the text of the Summit sign, perhaps if we all promised to buy her a beer (or her favorite beverage) she would lend a hand?

Last year’s release. Something to work from.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Hikers remember 9/11 in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

White Mountains, NH – September 3, 2003 – The second annual “Flags on the 48”, A September 11th Memorial Hike, will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2003 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The “Flags on the 48” event was established because of the horrific terrorist attack that took place on September 11, 2001. Three days after the attack, several regular posters on the AMC Hiker Journal on-line message forum banded together and planned a following day hike up Mount Liberty with the biggest flag they could acquire.

On September 15, 2001, six hikers met at the “White House” Trailhead armed with a 96 square foot American flag, 30 feet of PVC tubing, 100 feet of rope, 2 rolls of duct tape, and a mountain of pride and determination. At noon the flag was raised on the summit of Mount Liberty in a tribute to the thousands of innocent people who perished a few days earlier; a small gesture for such a gigantic loss.

The patriotic display received a tremendous amount of positive feedback, and a few weeks later a committee formed to establish a larger memorial for the one year anniversary. A Web site was established at http://flags.alpinezone.com and the “Flags on the 48” was born.

During the first “Flags on the 48” event on September 14, 2002, several hundred patriotic compassionate souls embarked on a journey to raise American flags on all of the summits of the 48 4,000+ foot mountains in New Hampshire. Although still a small gesture for such an incredible loss, the feedback from all of the participants as well as observers was overwhelming.

On September 13, 2003, we are continuing this memorial to unite the hiking community in a show of support to all of the families and communities who suffered tragic losses that day, and to all of the people who have died serving this great country to preserve our freedom.

One of the coordinators, Richard Kipphut, notes why some hikers participate in this memorial: “By demonstrating our steadfast unity as Americans and as hikers, we hope to express our unwavering support to the families and to the communities whose losses are beyond comprehension and whose sacrifices will forever remain in our hearts.”

For more information or to sign up to raise a flag on one of the 48 peaks, visit http://flags.alpinezone.com or E-mail flags03@alpinezone.com.

END

I have some good contacts at Nashua telegraph and Concord Monitor. Where is the press release?

___________

Hale – 2004

Check the dates in the first sentence.

Going out today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Hikers remember 9/11 in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

White Mountains, NH – September 8, 2003 – The third annual “Flags on the 48”, A September 11th Memorial Hike, will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2004 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The “Flags on the 48” event was established in response to the horrific terrorist attacks that took place in America on September 11, 2001. A website for the event has been set up at https://www.flagsonthe48.org

Three days after the attacks several regular on-line posters to the AMC Hiker Journal message forum banded together and planned a hike the following day. Intent on raising the largest American flag they could find from the summit of Mt. Liberty.

On September 15, 2001, six hikers met at the White House Trailhead armed with a 96 square foot flag, 30 feet of PVC tubing, 100 feet of rope, 2 rolls of duct tape, and a wealth of pride and determination. As a gesture of sympathy for such a horrific loss, the American flag was raised on the summit of Mt. Liberty, paying tribute to the thousands of innocent people who perished in the attacks. This patriotic display received such tremendous amounts of positive feedback that a committee was formed to establish a larger, annual memorial. The “Flags on the 48” event was given life.

On September 14, 2002 and again on September 13, 2003, several hundred patriotic and compassionate hikers embarked on a collective journey to raise American flags on all 48 of the 4,000+ foot summits in New Hampshire. This tribute, to the sacrifice of life and our strength of unity as a nation, remains small in the scope of the enormity of all that has been lost. However, the feedback from participants, as well as observers, continues to be overwhelmingly positive and this small tribute has gained tremendous support.

By raising Old Glory on Saturday, Septmber 11, 2004, a united community of hikers will continue to honor the families and communities that have suffered the ultimate and tragic losses as well as all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have served and sacrificed to preserve our liberty. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

Visit https://www.flagsonthe48.org or E-mail flags04@flagsonthe48.org for more information or to sign up to raise a flag on one of the 48 peaks.

END