Freedom Run News
News and results from the Annual Freedom Run/Walk can be found here.
News Archive
November 11th, 2014
Grateful Nation Montana is partnering with national high-end apparel maker Spyder and outdoor retailers Bob Ward and Sons in Missoula and Scheels All Sports in Great Falls to offer a limited release of tactical sweater jacket, with 100 percent of the profits going to support the organization’s mission.
November 7th, 2014
In honor of Veteran’s Day, NBC Montana takes a look at how one letter from a fallen Montana soldier impacted more than his family. We would like to thank Grateful Nation Montana for making making us aware of the letter and providing it.
July 9th, 2014
310 Freedom Run participants! A beautiful 4th of July morning at Brookies Cookies and Swan River Nature Trail to remember our military families and the sacrifice they make for our Freedom! Please send us your Freedom Run pictures to post on our facebook page and website. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped with the 2014 Freedom Run!
2013
July 8th, 2013
We had a fantastic turnout for Grateful Nation Montana’s 3rd Annual Freedom 5K Run/Walk! 405 participants took part to help support Grateful Nation Montana! Thank you and see you next year!
July 7th, 2013
July 4th, 2013
April 9th, 2013
April 8th, 2013
April 2nd, 2013
- The bill giving the monument official status as a state memorial drew bipartisan support among legislators. It passed both the House and Senate without a dissenting vote. Read more at The Missoulian, Ravalli Republic, and also at The Republic.
2012
November 12th, 2012
- Grateful Nation Montana hats raise scholarship money for fallen soldiers’ children. Read more at The Missoulian.
November 10th, 2012
- VETERANS DAY 2012: Vietnam veteran returns to UM campus to heal, remember. Read more at The Missoulan.
July 4th, 2012
Our 2nd Annual Freedom Run welcomed 150 participants.
May 15th, 2012
2011
November 14th, 2011
November 11th, 2011
November 7th, 2011
November 5th, 2011
Fallen Soldier Memorial Unveiling
A crowd of more than 800 veterans and military supporters travelled to Missoula from around Montana and the country to stand by the families of the 41 Montana soldiers who died in Iraq or Afghanistan, and to participate in this moving ceremony. Among other featured speakers, U.S. Senator Max Baucus offered an emotional tribute to the sacrifice of his nephew, Marine Corporal Phillip Baucus, who died in 2006, as well as to the other 40 Montana soldiers being honoured by the Memorial.
On November 5th, the families of Montana’s fallen soldiers attended the UM Griz game, where Griz fans and UM’s military alumni watched the largest American flag the world unfurled across the entire UM Stadium football field, followed by a flyover of F-15’s from Malmstrom Air Force base in Great Falls.
November 5th, 2011
November 4th, 2011
- KPAX Video: Fallen soldier memorial statue unveiled in Missoula
- NPR: A conversation with GNM Fallen Soldier Memorial artist Rick Rowley. Rick’s section starts 13:45 into the segment.
31st October, 2011
- Video: Grateful Nation featured on NBC Montana
- NPR: In depth discussion about GNM, the Memorial and the new Coffee line. Starts 12:30 into the segment.
25th October, 2011
23rd October, 2011
Sept 20th, 2011
Unveiling November 4th in Missoula!
GNM is unveiling our Fallen Soldier Memorial on UM’s main campus late afternoon November 4th. The five larger-than-life bronze statues will be a source of hope, patriotism and pride for generations to come.
The name, branch, rank, dates lived and home town of our Montana soldiers who have given their lives for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan will be featured in recessed granite markers surrounding the Memorial. The list of soldiers can be found here.
To view additional pictures of the Memorial statues under construction by Lincoln, MT native Rick Rowley, visit the GNM Facebook page.
There are numerous other veteran/military-related activities surrounding this event as well as the UM Griz Military Appreciation football game on Saturady. It will be the largest weekend-long tribute to our military in Montana history.
Everyone is welcome, so please come to pay tribute to our military and the sacrifice of our soldiers.
July 6th, 2011
Freedom 5K draws larger-than-expected crowd for inaugural race
Approximately 300 runners lined up for Bigfork’s first Freedom 5K organized by Grateful Nation Montana.
- Read the story from the BigFork Eagle
- See the photo gallery from the event
- Results from the Freedom Run
April 17th, 2011
GNM is proud to partner with My Vet Book for the Freedom Run in Billings, MT on Memorial Day
January 4th, 2011
Grateful Nation featured on NBC Montana
2010-2009
Grateful Nation featured on Montana Public Radio (starts at 9:36)
December 22nd, 2010
Group aims to thank to Montana’s fallen soldiers with memorial, scholarships (PDF)
Great Falls Tribune – November 26th, 2010
College: Executive Helps Fallen Soldiers Kids
BERNEWS.com – November 26th, 2010
Montana soldiers’ kids sent to school
Billings Gazette – April 27th, 2009
Fund will help children of fallen heroes pay for school
Great Falls Tribune – April 20th, 2009
Grateful Nation featured on Fox & Friends
April 20th, 2009
Grateful Nation helps send fallen soldiers’ children to college
Missoulian Paper – April 10th, 2009
Program gives back to soldiers’ families
Montana Kaimin – April 10th, 2009
Grateful Nation featured on NBC Nightly News
March 31st, 2009
Grateful Nation featured on Montana Public Radio
March 27th, 2009
Grateful Nation now has a Facebook Group
March 20, 2009
Cindy McCain Joins Board of Directors of Grateful Nation Montana, Inc.
Reuters – April 22, 2008
Program to aid slain soldiers’ children
Missoulian Paper – March 11, 2008
Scholarship helps family members when soldiers die in war
by Associated Press – Jul 5, 2007, 22:16
Fallen service members’ survivors left to bear hidden costs of war
by Mike Barber, seattlepi.com – March 19, 2007
Montana’s Fallen
A list of the U.S. Service Members from Montana who have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom can be found here.