RMS December Update: RMS Productions Takes a New Direction

Message from Remember My Service President, Sharlene Hawkes

Since 2005, we have encouraged all Commands to create Battalion-specific interactive commemoratives for two basic reasons: 1) The size of about 500-800 individuals per DVD-ROM gives the project enough content to make it robust and meaningful, yet it still feels personal, with bios for each individual in the Battalion if desired, and 2) it was the most cost-effective and high-quality way to produce our RMS Commemoratives at $28 per Servicemember.  Over the last six months, however, we have changed our direction in a constant quest to lower cost and increase quality.

Now that we have reliable dual-layer DVD-ROMs that can easily hold a Brigade worth of content AND all their Battalions, Companies, Platoons and individual information, I am encouraging Brigade-level Commemoratives.  What does this mean? It means each Soldier in a Brigade, or each Sailor on a Carrier, can receive an RMS Commemorative that is even more comprehensive, and instead of the 6 x 8 hardbound journal we have been doing, the DVD-ROM will be placed in an 8 ½ x 11 full color, archive quality 100-page hardbound book with dust jacket…for $18.75 per individual.   Take a look it’s the absolute best way to recognize the important service of each person serving in our Military.   It was clear this was a no-brainer when I was on a Skype video call last month with the 25th SBCT in AFG: A full-size “coffee table” book and a massive DVD-ROM (10,000-plus digital pages) for that price?  Nice!

From all of us at RMS Productions, we send a big holiday greeting!   We remember daily (because it is our full-time work and mission to remember!) the service and sacrifice of so many great Americans who wear and have worn the American uniform—and the families who love them. With deep gratitude, we wish you all a very peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year!

—Sharlene

RMS Notes:

• The Missouri National Guard has been in presentation ceremony mode this month and we love to get feedback on how it goes.  Watch this video of the 229th Multifunction Medical Battalion responding to receiving their RMS Commemorative, and this news article on the entire MOARNG.  Please send us your news and we will link it on our Facebook, Blog, and Twitter.
• Sharlene Hawkes and Elayne Harmer will be in Washington, D.C. for the Surface Navy Association symposium Jan. 8-12; Sharlene will be in Las Vegas Jan. 13-15 as part of our RMS-sponsored “Project Gratitude” in partnership with the Miss America Organization, American Airlines, Planet Hollywood, and Warrior Gataway—PG III welcomes 22 gold star wives, daughters, and moms of fallen heroes for a royal weekend, capped with a ceremony to name them each honorary Miss Americas.
• Please like our page on Facebook!  We love to find new friends!

RMS Supports:

• The Library of Congress Veterans History Project: Connect now to share your—or
  your family members’—personal story of service in the US Military.
• No Greater Sacrifice is a non-profit organization that raises funds to provide college education for the children of our wounded warriors and fallen heroes.  Please visit
  their site and see what you can do to show your gratitude.
• Soldier On brings homeless veterans into a community where they govern themselves,
  as they work and serve in the community around them.  Based in Massachusetts,
  Soldier On is a first-rate organization and making a difference—an ideal model for other states and cities to adopt.  They are very willing to share their entire plan with any
  community action team looking for a working model to help their homeless veterans.
• Operation Gratitude is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care
  packages of items and letters addressed to individually named US Service Members
  deployed overseas.  Their mission is to put a smile on a service member’s face and to
  express to all troops our appreciation and support.  All donations are tax deductible.  
  If you want to help, contact opgrat@gmail.com.
• Sentinels of Freedom is a non-profit organization that provides up to four years of
  “life scholarships” to help wounded veterans become self-sufficient.  Our vets are finding
  that once they're released from the hospital, they face the everyday hardships of finding
  a home, continuing their education, or going to work to support their families.  Every
  American faces the same difficulties, but in the vet’s case, the situation is made more
  difficult because of their sacrifice.  Sentinels of Freedom provides life-changing
  opportunities for men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have suffered severe
  injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams.