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PSA in support of military families wins Emmy

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has awarded an Emmy to a series of public service announcements urging the American public to “support, befriend, remember and appreciate” their military families.

“Now is Our Time to Serve” won the only Emmy Award in the category of Local Public Service Announcements. The nonprofit National Military Family Association and US Family Health Plan, a Tricare contractor for the Defense Department, sponsored the PSAs, which are designed to raise the awareness of the American public. This category is designated for PSAs that have aired in up to 50 percent of the country’s TV markets.

“Shake the hand of a veteran, have coffee with a soldier’s parents, hire a military spouse,” suggests one of the PSAs.

The series aired from July 2007 through February 2008, with more than 7.3 million viewers, including broadcasts in major U.S. television markets and in more than 200 movie theaters before family film screenings.

“The Emmy Award gives us renewed pride in our mission of protecting and promoting the interests of military families, said Nancy Alsheimer, chairwoman of the board of governors of the National Military Family Association, in a statement announcing the award. “The Emmy Award for the series will bring additional attention to the important message of support for families — and for that, we are grateful.”

Kate Ryan, chairwoman of the US Family Health Plan Alliance, said in the statement that the two organizations are “passionate about serving uniformed services families, and it’s gratifying to know that our collaboration has helped spread the word about the need to support these everyday American heroes.”

US Family Health Plan serves more than 100,000 military beneficiaries in six service areas across the country.