03.21.07

From left, President George W. Bush and Brian Bohlman.

Erskine Seminary student visits White House

Brian Bohlman is new to Erskine Theological Seminary's doctor of ministry program, and he's spent time recently in some powerful company.

Bohlman, who is taking classes at Fort Jackson through the seminary, had the opportunity last month to visit with President George W. Bush in the White House in Washington, D.C.

Founder and executive director of "Operation Thank You," a Columbia-based organization, Bohlman was one of 10 representatives from "America Supports You" home front groups who were invited to the private meeting with the president.

America Supports You is an ongoing nationwide program that helps showcase Americans' support for the men and women of the Armed Forces. Since its launch in November 2004 by the Department of Defense, America Supports You has welcomed nearly 250 home front groups and more than 30 corporate sponsors. Many America Supports You home front groups support the troops by writing letters, sending care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending e-mails or simply extending kind gestures to the troops.

Bush discussed the importance of Bohlman and the other representatives' work and thanked them for their support of the military at home and abroad.

A major and a part-time chaplain in the South Carolina Air National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Station in Eastover, Bohlman said he started "Operation Thank You" because "I wanted to take cards filled with messages of support and encouragement to deliver to the troops during my last tour on active duty at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany."

Bohlman, who lives in Lexington with wife Shelley and 3-year-old daughter Mary Ellen, did just that and he was amazed at the response.

"When I saw how much 5,000 cards uplifted the spirits of our troops, I decided that I would set a goal to collect 150,000 this year," he said. "We've collected and mailed about 25,000 cards so far this year."

Bohlman, who has been a member of the Armed Forces since 1992, encouraged individuals, churches, schools, businesses, etc., to visit www.operationthankyou.org to order "thank you" or "get well" cards.

"This is a great way to send a note of encouragement to those who are sacrificing so much for so many at home and abroad," he said.

Operation Thank You has also recently created a DVD of support messages for the troops to provide encouragement from the home front.

Bohlman said he was honored to be invited to the White House for the meeting with the president.

"The president recognized how important our work on behalf of our men and women in uniform is, and that this nationwide support is critical to their morale," Bohlman said. "Recognition of this magnitude fuels our passion to let service members across the world know how much America supports them and to continue providing ways the American people can show their support."

President Bush offered encouraging remarks to the gathering.

"There are some remarkable acts of kindness by people who have taken it upon themselves to serve their country by helping a neighbor in need," he said. "Whether it be helping the chaplains help kids, or whether it be helping a family of the injured, whether it be working at Walter Reed or supporting troops getting ready to go into combat, these good men and women really represent the very best of America…I'm proud to be the president of a country with so many decent citizens.

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