The Harrison Report
Serving Harrison, West Harrison and Purchase

June 17, 2005

Manhattanville student/soldier recognized by A&E network

A U.S. Army sergeant and Manhattanville student who sparked a “My Soldier” program to support his fellow servicemen overseas has been recognized
with a “Lives That Make a Difference” award by the A&E Network.

Sergeant Juan Salas, who started and maintains the “My Soldier” Program, was
nominated by the Westchester County Veterans Agency because of his continued service to his country, his community and to his fellow service members still serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Director Tom Meier.

Salas began the program by enlisting the help of Manhattanville College President Richard Berman, who then enlisted County Executive Andy Spano to help promote the “My Soldier” program. The program has gotten about 300,000
people across the U.S. to “adopt” and communicate with approximately 150,000 US military personnel worldwide. 

Salas, a member of the army reserve, had been activated to full-time military duty while a freshman at Manhattanville College. As president of his freshman class, he was well known to the president’s office and staff. In fact Ann Gold, aide to the president for community affairs, and President Richard Berman both wrote to Salas while he was in Iraq. 

Salas, a naturalized US citizen originally from Venezuela, saw active combat duty in Iraq, where he was commended for his part in saving the life of a child. “It was long,” says Salas. “But the thing that kept me going was getting letters,from kids, boy scouts and students. A letter was like a piece of gold. Something you will keep for the rest of your life.” When he got back to Manhattanville College, he wanted to help his fellow soldiers still serving overseas. He brought this idea to President Berman and Gold, who were determined to find a way for the college to help.

During a brainstorming session about how to support other soldiers with communications from other well wishers from back home, Gold, as was her habit, fortuitously was wearing a POW-MIA bracelet with a name of a Vietnam veteran on it. Salas quizzed her about it, and they immediately made the transition from that bracelet to the “My Soldier” bracelet that is sent to each participant who signs up for the pen-pal relationship offered through the initiative.

With the help of other students and Manhattanville staff, Salas, Berman and Gold devised “My Soldier”. Find out more at www.mysoldier.com or
www.mville.edu/mysoldier. When people enroll in the My Soldier program to
adopt a soldier, they receive a “starter kit” containing a red “My Soldier” bracelet to publicly show their support for American troops. Enrollees also receive guidelines for writing letters to deployed soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.

Salas, who lives in White Plains and will be a senior at Manhattanville next year, continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves in the 353 Civil Affairs Command, stationed out of Fort Hamilton, N.Y.