Rooted In Military Family Communication: Give Thanks America

First Organizational VidForum (2005)

First University Based Electoral VidForum (2004)
First Online Presidential Primary VidForum (2004)
First Neutral Non-Partisan Online Political Debate (2002)

Shortly after September 11, the Fabric of America campaign began organizing a letter writing campaign to troops abroad to provide an outlet for civilians and support for those in service.   Soon Anthrax attacks brought a new concern for the Department of Defense.   This threat led to the DOD suspending letter writing campaigns to the troops in service.  Military family communication is key to sustaining morale both at home and abroad.  A solution was needed.

"A national initiative, 'Give Thanks America' was created as a way of allowing the families of U.S. service people to send three minute video messages to their loved ones. Compaq, Sorenson Media and Digital Island, a Cable & Wireless Company, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, joined together to create a technology solution that allowed U.S. families of service people to send three-minute video messages by email to their loved ones "   Nathan Segal �Give Thanks America� Streaming Media World, March 26, 2002      

Three days before the launch of GTA, North Carloina State VFW Post 2087, contacted the GTA campaign to help create a fixed location for the communications initiative in Greensboro, North Carolina.   Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2087 received a mobile "movie studio" and technical support to establish the first permanent location for 21st century military family communication.  Local business and hundreds of people participated in the video streaming campaign.  Soldiers saw their newborn children for the first time using the Web.  Family and friends communicated their private  thoughts and emotions through video streaming technology .  Thus began a new era in military family communication and civil service.