WASHINGTON (Aug. 21, 2008) -- Army Secretary Pete Geren this week honored 30 Army communicators who excelled in programs and events designed to raise public awareness of the U.S. Army's 233rd birthday.

"Across the Army, with parades, parties, balloons, press conferences and other creative events - covered by TV, radio, YouTube, Flickr, Blogs and VTC's - we saw many great contributions in celebrating and promoting this historic anniversary to internal and external audiences," Geren wrote in a letter to select commanders, command sergeants major and public affairs officers.

"Birthday events across America and indeed, the world, focused on the importance of Army Families to the strength of our force," Geren continued. "Thousands of Army children participated in birthday events in and outside of Childhood Development Centers, and learned about the Army's proud history through our first-ever children's book."

As part of a Geren-led initiative to include Army children in the service's 233rd birthday celebration, Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command's Child Youth Services developed a new book titled "Happy Birthday U.S. Army!"

"We want our children in the Army to appreciate the history of the Army and appreciate how much they are a part of the history of the Army," Geren said during a book reading at the Child Development Center on Fort Myer, Va. "When we look at the contributions our Soldiers and their families make, our children are a very important part of that, and we want them to celebrate with us."

Some 60,000 copies of the book were distributed to youth on garrisons worldwide. Many held functions similar to the one at Fort Myer - where Soldiers, local community leaders and others read the book to children - as part of Army birthday observances.

Geren saluted thirty commands and installations, which were especially "effective...in creating, executing and publicizing (birthday) events." Geren sent a congratulatory letter and Secretary of the Army coin to those honored for their efforts.

Those recognized by Geren were:
Aca,!Ac Fort Belvoir, Va.
Aca,!Ac Fort Benning, Ga.
Aca,!Ac Fort Bliss, Texas
Aca,!Ac Fort Campbell, Ky
Aca,!Ac Fort Dix, N.J.
Aca,!Ac Douglas,
Aca,!Ac Fort Eustis, Va.
Aca,!Ac Fort Hood, Texas
Aca,!Ac Fort Jackson, S.C.
Aca,!Ac Fort Knox, Ky.
Aca,!Ac Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Aca,!Ac Fort Lee, Va.
Aca,!Ac Fort Lewis, Wash.
Aca,!Ac Fort Monroe, Va.
Aca,!Ac Fort Myer, Va.
Aca,!Ac Fort Riley, Kan.
Aca,!Ac Picatinny Army Arsenal's garrison,
Aca,!Ac Walter Reed Army Medical Center, D.C..
Aca,!Ac United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Aca,!Ac and the United States Army Reserve Center in Great Falls, Mo.

Also honored were: U.S. Army garrisons in:
Aca,!Ac Hawaii
Aca,!Ac Yongsan and Daegu, Korea,
Aca,!Ac Grafenwoehr and Wiesbaden, Germany,
Aca,!Ac Brussels, Belgium
Aca,!Ac Kwajalein
Aca,!Ac and Japan
Aca,!Ac as well as the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan
Aca,!Ac and the 168th Brigade Support Battalion at Camp Liberty, Iraq.