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.
“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 of Series, 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).
