Illinois, U.S.A. – Everyone loves a happy ending. That sentiment is proving true with a popular online video that pays tribute to American military families and their emotional reunions. The two-minute tribute, created by Eckrich in support of Operation Homefront, has already surpassed half a million views on YouTube since its June 5 release. The video is set to the music of Iron and Wine’s rendition of “Love Vigilantes” by New Order.

Eckrich, part of the John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, partnered this year with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance to the families of United States service members and wounded warriors. Through the partnership, Eckrich donated a portion of every purchase of specially marked products from May 1 through July 4 to Operation Homefront, up to $200,000. Representatives from Eckrich presented Operation Homefront with a $200,000 check at a ceremony at the Operation Homefront Village in San Antonio, Texas, on April 28.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response and support of the online video that highlights military family homecomings,” said Charles Gitkin, vice president, marketing, innovation and R&D for the John Morrell Food Group. “This was an effort for us to show our appreciation to Operation Homefront and our military families. It’s been wonderful to see so many others who have joined us in this support. We can only hope this video can touch more people and continue to make a difference and bring recognition to an amazing organization.”

The partnership is supported with a broader Eckrich marketing campaign that features television, radio, online and outdoor advertising, as well as using Facebook to showcase military families with “meet-a-family” videos and stories.

The efforts of Eckrich to support Operation Homefront extended recently to the NASCAR world, where Eckrich has a partnership with the No. 43 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports. The three organizations are coming off a weekend of successfully raising awareness in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they recognized a local military family with a surprise visit from No. 43 Eckrich Ford driver Aric Almirola.

The partnering organizations also unveiled a specially designed coin bank, made out of a real racing tire, on June 29 at Kentucky Speedway to encourage fans to donate spare change for the campaign. The bank is traveling to other Eckrich-sponsored races this summer – a schedule that included Indianapolis this past weekend and Michigan International Speedway on August 19.

“We can’t thank Eckrich enough for everything they have already done to support Operation Homefront,” said Amy Palmer, chief operating officer of Operation Homefront. “We continue to hear great feedback about the online video. It’s a tribute to our military families that over half a million people have already viewed this feature and we hope it only continues to spread.”

After watching the tribute video on YouTube, viewers are encouraged to visit and “like” the Eckrich Facebook page to see more videos and stories and to learn additional ways that they can support American military families.

Image Courtesy of  Greg Randles / Shutterstock.com

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Early Sunday, a lone soldier walked out of his base and into the nearby village in the Panjway district of the Kandahar province in Afghanistan. This U.S. soldier then opened fire on civilians. Sixteen Afghan villagers, mostly women and children, were killed.

The soldier returned to the base and turned himself in to authorities following the killings. He remains in U.S. custody but his identity has not been disclosed. At this time his motive is also unknown. Initial reports from witnesses stated a group of possible drunk U.S. soldiers were responsible for the killings. U.S. officials maintain that there was simply one shooter.

Washington moved quick to put distance between the lone gunman and the 90,000 U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. According to reports, President Obama phoned the Afghan President Hamid Karzai and expressed his shock and sadness as well as offering condolences to the victims’ families and the Afghan people.

In a statement released by the White House, Obama said, “This incident is tragic and shocking and does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan.” Obama also vowed “to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible.”  To accomplish this goal a joint investigation will be carried out by the U.S. and Afghan authorities.

According to the Washington Post, President Karzai has already sent senior government officials to Panjway to investigate the shootings. During their visit they found that 11 of the dead were from one family. The shootings come at a sensitive time in U.S.-Afghan relations. Officials from both sides had signed a deal on Friday, March 9 to transfer a U.S.-run prison at Bagram airbase to Afghan authorities.

This transfer was insisted on by Karzai and was considered progress in reaching a Strategic Partnership Agreement, said the New York Times, allowing long-term American involvement in Afghanistan after 2014. Now officials are worried about retaliatory attacks. Tensions had begun to ease after the accidental burning of copies of the Koran at the main NATO base in Afghanistan just a few weeks earlier. Protests following the Koran burning led to the deaths of 30 people.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued an emergency statement on their website to alert “U.S. citizens in Afghanistan that as a result of a tragic shooting incident in Kandahar province involving a U.S. service member, there is a risk of anit-American feelings and protests in the coming days, especially in the eastern and southern provinces.”

The Taliban wasted no time issuing a statement condemning the killings and possibly adding fuel to the fire. “The so-called American peacekeepers have once again quenched their thirst with the blood of innocent Afghan civilians.” They also pledged to “avenge every single death inflicted by the savage murderer invaders.” It is difficult to predict the extent of the backlash but the officials in Washington seem to be preparing for the worst.

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