America Supports You: Web Site Gives Public Chance to Thank Troops

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2008 – A new Web site is giving the American public a nonpartisan opportunity to join entertainers, professional athletes and politicians in expressing gratitude to servicemembers defending the nation.

\”What we wanted to do and, I think, something that we were equipped to do, was to provide a forum that is really meant to be uplifting [to servicemembers],\” said Stacey Artandi, founder of \”Moment of Thanks.\” \”It’s meant to say [to Americans], ‘Shed your politics. Put them aside, and take a moment to be grateful for some of the things that we really cherish.’\”

The Moment of Thanks site is one way parent company SheZoom, a video site for women and families, is working to keep troops and support for them at the top of everyone’s mind, she said.

It allows for the upload of videos, photos or text containing a positive message for the troops at no cost. Registration is required to upload material, however.

Launched July 4, the Moment of Thanks site already boasts more than 1,000 video messages of heartfelt thanks and support for the troops, more than half of them filmed by Artandi’s team.

A trip to Las Vegas led the team to collect messages from cast and crew members at various shows, and a theme emerged.

\”When we went to Vegas, we thought we ought to get some shows,\” Artandi said. \”We’ve got Star Trek, Jersey Boys, Stomp and the Chippendales. Next week is kind of ‘Vegas Week’ [on Moment of Thanks].