So this is how it all happened. Before the 101st Rock Division tour Iraq in 2004, I went to an Army/Navy Surplus Store to buy T-shirts to wear on stage during the tour of Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Africa. I bought your basic Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard shirts. When we'd finish a show and come to the front of the stage to sign autographs and to talk with our awesome Troops, they would tell me, "I love your shirt."

I'd smile and say, "I thought this was the same stuff you got while you were in basic training?" They usually said, "well, yes it was, but those shirts are well worn out now and the military doesn't give us more of those. We have to buy those."

I also learned that most Troops would prefer to wear and honor their Military legacy, and not wear a "joke" on their chest.

5-years ago I began working on designing graphics that honored each branch of the Military. I wanted it to be elegant, classy with a little fun. I asked graphic designer after graphic designer, but they either seemed to be not interested or couldn't create exactly what my vision was ... that was until last May. I sat with a few US Veterans who were in the graphic design business.

After our meeting I knew they were exactly perfect to create these graphics. They understood the research that I had done, and added more facts and history to this project. We worked as a team for weeks in coffee shops and restaurants, designing our graphics. I invited them is to own a piece of my company. We named the company together - US Freedom Gear.

In mid-June-2009, I called people involved in the Military Network at Sears Holdings Corp and explained what I now had. In July US Freedom Gear was invited to a meeting to make a presentation. When they looked at the first page of the presentation, they completely understood what this was about.

In August, I was invited back to a buyers meeting and within 2-weeks we had a deal. Kmart (who owns Sears Holdings Corp) bought our product and would donate $1.00 from each T-shirt sale to "Heroes at Home," helping Veterans and their families ... in fact, last year alone, Heroes at Home donated over $7,000,000.00 to Veterans, their causes and their families.

Below are the graphics that my team of US Military Veterans created, exactly the way I pictured they would look, over 5-years ago. Please note the rich history inside of each graphic design ...










              
The US Freedom Gear "hang tag" announcing that $1.00 from the purchase of each shirt goes to Heroes at Home - helping Veterans and their families.

USCG, honoring our US Coast Guard, USA and HERO are also available. Visit www.USFreedomGear.com to see them all.

Here is a list of Kmart Stores carrying the US Freedom Gear ~ Legacy Collection, beginning October 23rd, 2009 ~

ALABAMA

3101 MC CLELLAN BLVD
ANNISTON, AL 362012121

1880 EAST MAIN ST
PRATTVILLE, AL 360665500

1401 MEMORIAL PKWY
HUNTSVILLE, AL 358015934

2185 REEVES STREET
DOTHAN, AL 363032349

803 MARTIN STREET
PELL CITY, AL 351282135

230 GREEN SPRINGS
HOMEWOOD, AL 352094906

ARIZONA

8701 WEST MCDOWELL
TOLLESON, AZ 853539004

2011 EAST FRY BLVD
SIERRA VISTA, AZ 856352708

336 EAST BASELINE
PHOENIX, AZ 850406511

7055 EAST BROADWAY
TUCSON, AZ 857102804

ARKANSAS

10901 RODNEY PARHA
LITTLE ROCK, AR 722123698

CALIFORINA

77 CHILPANCINGO
PLEASANT HILL, CA 945231334

7200 ARLINGTON AVE
RIVERSIDE, CA 925031510

1950 NORTH IMPERIA
EL CENTRO, CA 922431321

1950 NORTH IMPERIA
EL CENTRO, CA 922431321

850 GRAY AVE
YUBA CITY, CA 959913641

2180 E MARIPOSA RD
STOCKTON, CA 952057812

250 FLORESTA BLVD
SAN LEANDRO, CA 945784164

2344 SUNRISE BLVD
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 956704343

8501 AUBURN BLVD
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA 956100315

1050 NORTH DAVIS R
SALINAS, CA 939071944

1500 FITZGERALD DR
PINOLE, CA 945642229

1075 SHAW AVENUE
CLOVIS, CA 936123933

1700 S DELAWARE
SAN MATEO, CA 944022651

1855 MAIN STREET
RAMONA, CA 920652521

20777 BEAR VALLEY
APPLE VALLEY, CA 923086980

910 NORTH CHINA LA
RIDGECREST, CA 935553159

1455 W HOBSON
BLYTHE, CA 922251479

443 COLLEGE BLVD
OCEANSIDE, CA 920575435

215 WEST HANFORD/A
LEMOORE, CA 932452302

2200 HARBOR BLVD
COSTA MESA, CA 926272501

902 W SEPULVEDA
HARBOR CITY, CA 907101405

2525 N TEXAS ST
FAIRFIELD, CA 945331605

1155 VETERAN'S BLVD
REDWOOD CITY, CA 940632036

1810 W AVENUE J
LANCASTER, CA 935342706

2875 SANTA MARIA W
SANTA MARIA, CA 934552118

19330 HAWTHORNE BL
TORRANCE, CA 905031506

375 EAST ALLESSAND
RIVERSIDE, CA 925082463

3625 EAST 18TH ST
ANTIOCH, CA 945098511

255 NORTHGATE DRIV
MANTECA, CA 953367125

5100 CLAYTON ROAD
CONCORD, CA 945213139

940 ARNEILL RD
CAMARILLO, CA 930104703

4330 CAMINO DE LA
SAN YSIDRO, CA 921733024

3980 EL CAMINO REA
ATASCADERO, CA 934222533

875 EAST H STREET
CHULA VISTA, CA 919107807

2900 BELLFLOWER BO
LONG BEACH, CA 908151149

COLORADO

15200 E COLFAX AVE
AURORA, CO 800116965

3415 N ELIZABETH S
PUEBLO, CO 810081156

CONNECTICUT

45 SHUNPIKE RD
CROMWELL, CT 064162447

295 HARTFORD TURNP
VERNON, CT 060664783

DELAWARE

19563 COASTAL HWY
REHOBOTH BEACH, DE 199711141

FLORIDA

1140 E JOHN SIMS P
NICEVILLE, FL 325782204

6050 HIGHWAY 90
MILTON, FL 325701703

4211 MOBILE HWY
PENSACOLA, FL 325064205

4645 BLANDING BLVD
JACKSONVILLE, FL 322107324

9459 LEM TURNER RD
JACKSONVILLE, FL 322081568

901 US 27 NORTH SU
SEBRING, FL 338702131

2928 NORTH ROOSEVE
KEY WEST, FL 330404012

1501 NORMANDY VILL
JACKSONVILLE, FL 322216698

500 ATLANTIC BLVD
NEPTUNE BEACH, FL 322664024

4711 BABCOCK ST NE
PALM BAY, FL 329052805

225 S TYNDALL PKWY
CALLAWAY, FL 324046795

GEORGIA

2525 DAWSON RD
ALBANY, GA 317072315

2063 WATSON BLVD
WARNER ROBINS, GA 310933601

5600 MILGEN RD BLD
COLUMBUS, GA 319078700

1601 HIGHWAY 40 EA
KINGSLAND, GA 315487864

230 CLEVELAND AVE
ATLANTA, GA 303158208

33 W MONTGOMERY CR
SAVANNAH, GA 314063412

3200 MACON RD
COLUMBUS, GA 319061718

144 VIRGINIA AVE S
TIFTON, GA 317948023

3830 WASHINGTON RD
MARTINEZ, GA 309075064

2000 BARNETT SHOAL
ATHENS, GA 306053602

HAWAII

94 - 825 LUMIAINA
WAIPAHU, HI 967975025

500 NIMITZ HWY
HONOLULU, HI 968175030

4561 SALT LAKE BLV
HONOLULU, HI 968183167

4303 NAWILIWILI RO
LIHUE (KAUAI), HI 967669581

500 KAMOKILA BOULE
KAPOLEI, HI 967072026

ILLINOIS

3110 BELVIDERE RD
WAUKEGAN, IL 600856016

1199 E OGDEN AVE
NAPERVILLE, IL 605638568

3655 NAMEOKI RD
GRANITE CITY, IL 620403710

6000 NORTHWEST HWY
CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 600148062

3250 CLEAR LAKE RD
SPRINGFIELD, IL 627026208

345 W ROOSEVELT RD
LOMBARD, IL 601484219

1155 OAKTON ST
DES PLAINES, IL 600182046

INDIANA

7425 E WASHINGTON
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 462196706

4651 S US HIGHWAY
TERRE HAUTE, IN 478026801

1320 JAMES AVE
BEDFORD, IN 474213592

IOWA

2600 DODGE STREET
DUBUQUE, IA 520037159

7501 HICKMAN
URBANDALE, IA 503224620

3200 AGENCY ST
BURLINGTON, IA 526011979

2501 N BROADWAY RR
RED OAK, IA 515661011

3808 BRADY STREET
DAVENPORT, IA 528066008

KANSAS

4830 S BROADWAY
WICHITA, KS 672163713

401 E POYNTZ AVE
MANHATTAN, KS 665025045

2240 N TYLER ST
TOPEKA, KS 666081923

1740 SW WANAMAKER
TOPEKA, KS 666043813

4820 S 4TH ST TRAF
LEAVENWORTH, KS 660485035

KENTUCKY

1809 N DIXIE HWY
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY 427015505

191 OUTER LOOP
LOUISVILLE, KY 402145544

951 BY PASS ROAD
WINCHESTER, KY 403911058

LOUSIANNA

3045 E TEXAS ST
BOSSIER CITY, LA 711113296

2701 BELLE CHASSE
GRETNA, LA 700567190

2985 COTTINGHAM EX
PINEVILLE, LA 713604389

4070 RYAN ST
LAKE CHARLES, LA 706052897

2940 VETERANS BLVD
METAIRIE, LA 700026042

3555 HIGHWAY 190
MANDEVILLE, LA 704713187

MAINE

603 CENTER ST
AUBURN, ME 042106306

688 HOGAN ROAD
BANGOR, ME 044013604

830 MAIN STREET
PRESQUE ISLE, ME 047692276

MARYLAND

1003 W PATRICK ST
FREDERICK, MD 217023904

1647 CROFTON CENTR
CROFTON, MD 211141318

7923 BELAIR RD
BALTIMORE, MD 212363746

16080 THREE NOTCH
CALIFORNIA, MD 206193106

6163 OXON HILL ROA
OXON HILL, MD 207453108

6411 RIGGS ROAD
HYATTSVILLE, MD 207833054

MASSACHUSETTS

768 IYANNOUGH RD
HYANNIS, MA 026014916

484 BOSTON RD
BILLERICA, MA 018212710

180 MAIN ST
SAUGUS, MA 019064502

24 William F Canning Blvd,
Fall River, MA

2203 N HAMPTON ST
HOLYOKE, MA 010403477

77 MIDDLESEX AVE
SOMERVILLE, MA 021451109

350 GROSSMAN DRIVE
BRAINTREE, MA 021844943

140 WHALON ST
FITCHBURG, MA 014207158

MICHIGAN

21111 VAN BORN RD
TAYLOR, MI 481801339

200 CAPITAL AVE SW
BATTLE CREEK, MI 490152202

31200 SCHOENHERR R
WARREN, MI 480887000

5400 CEDAR STREET
LANSING, MI 489113893

50700 GRATIOT AVE
CHESTERFIELD, MI 480513131

801 N LINCOLN RD
ESCANABA, MI 498291557

760 N VAN DYKE
BAD AXE, MI 484139012

MINNESOTA

1734 MALL DR
DULUTH, MN 558113839

MISSISSIPPI

1355 EAST PASS ROA
GULFPORT, MS 395073406

3001 HIGHWAY 82 E
GREENVILLE, MS 387038297

2308 HIGHWAY 45 NO
COLUMBUS, MS 397011745

12057 HIGHWAY 49
GULFPORT, MS 395033177

MISSOURI

6650 MANCHESTER
ST LOUIS, MO 631393560

11978 ST CHARLES R
BRIDGETON, MO 630442636

20 OFALLON SQUARE
O FALLON, MO 633663034

1400 S LIMIT
SEDALIA, MO 653015116

MONTANA

1000 3RD STREET NW
GREAT FALLS, MT 594044114

NEVADA

5051 E BONANZA RD
LAS VEGAS, NV 891103573

4500 NORTH RANCHO
LAS VEGAS, NV 891303404

2125 ODDIE BLVD
SPARKS, NV 894313563

NEW HAMPSHIRE

1267 HOOKSETT RD
HOOKSETT, NH 031061840

1465 WOODBURY AVEN
PORTSMOUTH, NH 038013210

NEW JERSEY

213 HIGHWAY 37 E
TOMS RIVER, NJ 087535563

1550 ST GEORGE AVE
AVENEL, NJ 070011044

321 STADIUM PLAZA
JERSEY CITY, NJ 073054896

6 VERVALEN STREET
CLOSTER, NJ 076242620

1061 WHITEHORSE AV
TRENTON, NJ 086101424

NEW MEXICO

9500 MONTGOMERY BL
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 871112564

2100 CARLISLE AVE
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 871103810

3201 N WHITE SAND
ALAMOGORDO, NM 883106199

2100 E TUCUMCARI B
TUCUMCARI, NM 884014399

NEW YORK

2660 HYLAN BOULEVARD
STATEN ISLAND, NY 103064336

8007 OSWEGO ROAD
LIVERPOOL, NY 130901603

93 WEST CAMPBELL R
SCHENECTADY, NY 123066800

2803 BREWERTON RD
MATTYDALE, NY 132111003

2590 MILITARY RD
NIAGARA FALLS, NY 143041506

4645 COMMERCIAL DR
NEW HARTFORD, NY 134136209

1860 CENTRAL AVE
ALBANY, NY 122054219

195 TROY SCHENECTA
LATHAM, NY 121105499

605 OLD COUNTRY RO
RIVERHEAD, NY 119012103

57 CENTRE DR
PLATTSBURGH, NY 129016553

744 S MEADOW ST
ITHACA, NY 148505321

21082 PIONEER PLAZ
WATERTOWN, NY 136015500

770 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NY 100039522

839 NEW YORK AVENU
HUNTINGTON, NY 117434412

25301 ROCKAWAY BOU
ROSEDALE, NY 114223146

374 WINDSOR HWY RT
VAILS GATE, NY 12584

NORTH CAROLINA

815 S COLLEGE RD
WILMINGTON, NC 284034499

175 FREEDOM WAY ST
MIDWAY PARK, NC 285441428

2701 FREEDOM DR
CHARLOTTE, NC 282083853

1931 SKIBO ROAD
FAYETTEVILLE, NC 283141541

201 N BERKELEY BLV
GOLDSBORO, NC 275344323

7090 NEW MARKET SQ
JACKSONVILLE, NC 285405203

4915-A ARENDELL ST
MOREHEAD CITY, NC 285572792

NORTH DAKOTA

1900 S WASHINGTON
GRAND FORKS, ND 582016340

OHIO

224E DAYTON YELLOW
FAIRBORN, OH 453243906

4480 INDIAN RIPPLE
DAYTON, OH 454403298

1825 N STATE RTE 1
FREMONT, OH 434201037

2100 NILES CORTLAN
WARREN, OH 444843040

1500 COSHOCTON
MT VERNON, OH 430501475

OKLAHOMA

1050 NW 38TH ST
LAWTON, OK 735053738

2327 N HARRIS
SHAWNEE, OK 748043134

OREGON

1776 AVALON ST
KLAMATH FALLS, OR 976034624

12350 NE SANDY BLV
PORTLAND, OR 972301217

13750 SE JOHNSON
MILWAUKIE, OR 972221240

PENNSYLVANIA

1133 YORK RD
WARMINSTER, PA 189742048

1025 WASHINGTON PI
BRIDGEVILLE, PA 150172702

1005 WAYNE AVE
CHAMBERSBURG, PA 172012923

424 OREGON AVENUE
PHILADELPHIA, PA 191484605

601 ROUTE 940
MT POCONO, PA 183441331

5600 CARLISLE PIKE
MECHANICSBURG, PA 170502491

825 BEAVER GRADE R
CORAOPOLIS, PA 151082639

5050 JONESTOWN ROA
HARRISBURG, PA 171122921

2000 SCOTT BLVD
MOON TOWNSHIP, PA 151089737

1745 QUENTIN
LEBANON, PA 170427435

RHODE ISLAND

296 GARFIELD AVENU
CRANSTON, RI 029207803

SOUTH CAROLINA

1535 SAVANNAH HIGH
CHARLESTON, SC 294077820

7325 TWO NOTCH RD
COLUMBIA, SC 292237655

4400 FORT JACKSON
COLUMBIA, SC 292091006

1143 BROAD ST
SUMTER, SC 291501971

2127 BOUNDARY ST
BEAUFORT, SC 299023827

SOUTH DAKOTA

1111 E NORTH ST
RAPID CITY, SD 577011747

TENNESSEE

530 DONELSON PIKE
NASHVILLE, TN 372143729

4801 HIGHWAY 58
CHATTANOOGA, TN 374161826

2780 GUTHRIE HWY
CLARKSVILLE, TN 370405837

3201 AUSTIN PEAY
MEMPHIS, TN 381284634

1806 N JACKSON ST
TULLAHOMA, TN 373882202

TEXAS

1101 FORT HOOD ST
KILLEEN, TX 765417451

11330 MONTWOOD DRI
EL PASO, TX 799364383

210 S EAST GEORGIA
SWEETWATER, TX 795568232

5000 SAN DARIO
LAREDO, TX 780415777

6501 UNIVERSITY AV
LUBBOCK, TX 794135849

1400 WILDCAT DRIVE
PORTLAND, TX 783742813

4520 W 7TH ST
TEXARKANA, TX 755016354

4565 S 1ST STREET
ABILENE, TX 796051427


UTAH

680 WEST 2600 SOUT
WOODS CROSS, UT 840878190

2010 N MAIN
LAYTON, UT 840414942

3835 WEST 5400 SOU
KEARNS, UT 841183548

1442 W 90TH SOUTH
WEST JORDAN, UT 840889218

1055 E DRAPER PARK
DRAPER, UT 840209094

VIRGINIA

401 ORIANA ROAD
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 236083717

210 W MERCURY BLVD
HAMPTON, VA 236692513

741 LITTLE CREEK RD
NORFOLK, VA 235183709

2001 SOUTH MILITARY
CHESAPEAKE, VA 233204440

2851 DALE BLVD
WOODBRIDGE, VA 221931117

1205 FORDHAM DR
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 234645344

4300 PORTSMOUTH BL
CHESAPEAKE, VA 233212137

3655 PLANK ROAD
FREDERICKSBURG, VA 224076832

12810 JEFFERSON DAVIS
CHESTER, VA 238315309

1650 GENERAL BOOTH
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 234545609

7807 SUDLEY RD
MANASSAS, VA 201092891

4251 JOHN MARR DR
ANNANDALE, VA 220033205

6101 N MILITARY
NORFOLK, VA 235185434

550 FIRST COLONIAL
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 234516186

118 WALLER MILL RO
WILLIAMSBURG, VA 231852946


6364 SPRINGFIELD P
SPRINGFIELD, VA 221503431

WASHINGTON

1001 E SUNSET DRIV
BELLINGHAM, WA 982263510

4210 WHEATON WAY
BREMERTON, WA 983103627

2711 NE ANDRESEN
VANCOUVER, WA 986617317

13200 AURORA AVE N
SEATTLE, WA 981337509

8102 EVERGREEN WAY
EVERETT, WA 982036419

4110 E SPRAGUE AVE
SPOKANE, WA 992024851

6606 N DIVISION ST
SPOKANE, WA 992083940

2304 E NOB HILL BL
YAKIMA, WA 989019502

5401 100TH STREET
LAKEWOOD, WA 984993818

2200 EAST ISAACS A
WALLA WALLA, WA 993622218

32165 STATE ROUTE
OAK HARBOR, WA 982773774

17911 PACIFIC AVE
SPANAWAY, WA 983874607

WISCONSIN

2415 STATE ROAD
LA CROSSE, WI 546016189

6077 S PACKARD AVE
CUDAHY, WI 531103027

WYOMING

1840 DELL RANGE BL
CHEYENNE, WY 820094949



SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

 

What did you think of this article?

Liked
Disliked
No Opinion