Memorial Day is a day of great significance to so many in our communities – to active duty military members, veterans and military families across the country and to all those who have been touched by our nation’s service members and benefited from the freedoms they defend. We pay tribute to the meaning of this important day of remembrance with this special edition of our “Service Series” by Ryan Manion, President of the Travis Manion Foundation, whose brother made the ultimate sacrifice now eleven years ago. We are honored to have Ryan contribute today’s piece featuring her insights on the meaning of Memorial Day and how she has shared her brother’s legacy of service to inspire thousands across America.​

We asked longtime friend of the Foundation, Dr. J.D. Crouch II, who currently serves as President and CEO of the USO, to respond to the following prompts, sharing his insights and advice from a distinguished career in public service. We hope you enjoy this first "Service Series" feature from such an honorable contributor to our nation. 

To commemorate the Foundation's10-year anniversary, our Executive Director, Sarah Tonucci, recently sat down with Founder and President, Don Rumsfeld, to discuss the Foundation's beginnings, the evolution of its programs over the last decade and his hopes for the future. 

This September, I was fortunate to attend the Rumsfeld Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship Conference in Washington, D.C.  I had attended this annual event the year prior, so had an idea as to what to expect: insightful guest speakers, stimulating discussion and valuable conversations with a group of passionate, impressive individuals who wish to improve the communities around them.

I always look forward to attending the annual Conference and other Foundation events, but this year I was particularly appreciative to be able to participate.  So much has occurred around the globe over the past year...

It was not until last year that I made my first friends from Central Asia, Afghanistan and even far-flung Mongolia. Born in Azerbaijan, educated in the West and later employed by a large national energy company, in mapping out countless trips both for business and pleasure, western destinations always seemed like an easy extension from my country. 

I never imagined that an experience I would have in March of 2016, as a Fellow of the Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program sponsored by the Rumsfeld Foundation, would suddenly propel such a strong desire within me to seek out a deeper understanding of the people and cultures of other post-Soviet countries whose histories I had only read about in school books. 

Welcome to the Rumsfeld Foundation's new blog, "Orienting the Gyroscope," which we are pleased to launch along with our updated website. The blog will reflect on the Foundation's now near decade of operations as well as provide insights and information on our continued commitment to our mission and programs in the years to come.