Lifetime's 'Army Wives' Celebrates 4th of July: Host Red Carpet Screening With Our Nation's Heroes at Walter Reed

Lifetime's 'Army Wives' Celebrates 4th of July: Host Red Carpet Screening With Our Nation's Heroes at Walter Reed

Chief of Staff of the Army General Casey, Lee Woodruff, and Cast Members Join Real Army Wives on the Red Carpet

Lifetime Launches Special Postcard Campaign to Send Messages of Support and Thanks to Military Families Nationwide

WASHINGTON, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Kicking off the July 4th holiday week and honoring America's servicemen and women and their families, the cast of Lifetime's hit show "Army Wives" were joined by real Army Wives, Wounded Warriors and military servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for a red carpet event and advance premiere of an upcoming episode of cable's number one drama of the year for women.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080702/AQW527)

"We wanted to hold a screening at Walter Reed because we feel so strongly about honoring the strength and sacrifice of the real military families who inspire our show 'Army Wives' and our nation," said Maria Grasso, Senior Vice President, Series Development, Lifetime Networks. "Most of all, we wanted to thank the real Army wives and all military spouses, many of whom joined us at the screening, who have shared their powerful stories with us and helped us shine a light on their challenges, friendships and dreams. 'Army Wives' is the #1 drama for women on all of basic cable, which tells us that people are watching and understanding what real Army wives do and sacrifice for all of us."

Lifetime held the red carpet screening in conjunction with the USO, U.S. Army, and more than a dozen military aid organizations. Military attendees included General and Mrs. George W. Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army and Major General and Mrs. Anthony Cucolo, Army Chief of Public Affairs.

Sally Pressman and Brigid Brannagh represented the cast of "Army Wives" and were joined at the event by the show's executive producer Deborah Spera of The Mark Gordon Company; Tanya Biank, northern Virginia resident and author of Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage, the book that inspired the show; Lee Woodruff, co-author of In an Instant and wife of ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, who was injured in Iraq; real Army wives and their families, as well as husbands and wives representing other military branches; and representatives from the USO and aid organizations.

"Army wives are a tremendously strong, resourceful, and proud bunch," said author Tanya Biank. "What's fantastic about the show is that it captures both the highs and lows of military life and the experiences our families go through in real life."

Military families were front and center throughout the evening, as Lifetime also launched its postcard drive at the event. Beginning in July, Lifetime will encourage fans of the show to send postcards of support to the families of servicemen and women deployed overseas. The cards will be distributed to military families throughout the year via Operation Homefront, a nonprofit providing emergency assistance and moral to the troops, the families they leave behind, and to wounded warriors when they return home.

"As our country is about to celebrate its 232nd birthday, we are so grateful to all those who continue to fight to uphold our freedom," said Lee Woodruff. "Our soldiers risk their lives and separate from their families for months and sometimes years at a time. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be when a family member is injured in war and it was a privilege to honor wounded warriors and their families."

In addition to the red carpet walk and reception, event attendees watched an advanced screening of "Army Wives" Episode 205: "The Hero Returns," which premieres this Sunday night, July 6, at 10PM (ET/PT).

   About Episode 205: "The Hero Returns"   Premieres: Sunday, July 6 (10:00 PM ET/PT)   

The episode focuses on how two soldiers' deal with the impact of war on their lives and their families. Pfc. Trevor LeBlanc (Drew Fuller) returns home as a hero but is conflicted about the praise being showered on him, while Major Frank Sherwood (Terry Serpico), still serving in Iraq, becomes increasingly worried about his wife Denise's (Catherine Bell) newfound independence.

About Army Wives:

The hit series, about the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of women -- and one man -- living with their spouses and families on an active army post, is filmed on location in Charleston, South Carolina. The series stars Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Wendy Davis, Drew Fuller and Catherine Bell. Mark Gordon and The Mark Gordon Company's President of Production, Deborah Spera are executive producers. Nick Thiel and series creator Katherine Fugate also serve as executive producers. The series is based on the book Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage by Tanya Biank, who is a consultant. "Army Wives" is produced by ABC Studios.

About Lifetime:

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and a top-rated basic cable network. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

About Walter Reed Health Care System "Home of Warrior Care":

The Walter Reed Health Care System provides comprehensive health care for more than 150,000 Soldiers, other servicemembers, Family members and retirees in the National Capital Area. Its hub is Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the clinical center of gravity of American military medicine. For more information, visit http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080702/AQW527
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN13
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Lifetime

CONTACT: Samantha Anderson, +1-202-295-0114,
sanderson@gloverparkgroup.com, for Lifetime; or Geralyn Lucas of Lifetime,
+1-212-424-7066, lucas@lifetimetv.com

Web site: http://www.lifetimetv.com/
http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/

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Profile: International Entertainment