A Sacred Commitment Published Nov. 2, 2009 By Megan Just 452 AMW Public Affairs MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- "Sacred Ground," by local author Tom Ruck pays tribute to veterans and raises money for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, is being honored with four awards In the stillness and solitude of the United States' national cemeteries, the gratitude of a nation to its veterans is forever alive. This eternal gratitude is precisely what Tom Ruck portrays in his book, "Sacred Ground," a coast-to-coast photographic journey through the national cemeteries, accompanied by poignant essays and quotations from historical figures and celebrities. The inspiration for "Sacred Ground" came to Tom Ruck while he was in Los Angeles for a business trip in 2004. The idea was to create a book that would be a tribute to veterans, but could also be sold to raise money for a non-profit organization for veterans. He jotted a few notes on a paper napkin and forgot about it until the next morning when he spotted the napkin as he was getting ready to leave for the airport. He unfolded the napkin and reread his idea. For Ruck, who is neither a photographer nor a writer and had never served in the military, the concept was daunting. "I didn't have a clue on what to do to get a book published," Ruck says. The easy thing would have been to crumple the napkin and toss it in the trash on the way out. Instead, Ruck stepped bravely into the world of nonfiction book publishing. "This is something I have to do," Ruck says, recalling his thoughts as he looked at the idea on the napkin. "I wanted to do something to say thank-you to the veterans, because I truly believe the veterans are the truest of American heroes." Assembling the book Ruck considered several subjects for the book and quickly settled on a photographic book of America's national cemeteries. "I realized what true national treasures our national cemeteries are," he says. There are 130 national cemeteries in the United States, in which over three million Americans who wore the uniform of our country are laid to rest, Ruck says. The cemeteries are administered by the National Cemetery Administration, which is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. "They do an unbelievably fantastic job of keeping the serenity and the dignity and the beauty of those cemeteries alive forever to say a final thank-you to that man or woman who wore the uniform of our country," Ruck says. With the book concept in mind, Ruck dove headfirst into the project, looking for essayists, photographers, a publisher, and the official permission from the National Cemetery Administration. Finding a publisher for a book that was not going to be sold for profit was an arduous process, but once Ruck spoke with Regnery Publishing in Washington, D.C., he knew he had found a publisher that would match his faith in the project. "I will forever be in debt to Marji Ross [President of Regnery] and her fantastic team that helped make this book a reality," Ruck says. At the same time, Ruck had been writing to the managers of celebrities, hoping to persuade the celebrities to contribute essays. He didn't have much luck until he contacted Ward Grant, who was Bob Hope's manager. "I talked to him about the idea and he literally began to weep and cry about what a beautiful idea it was. And then I started to weep and cry about what a beautiful idea it was. It was two grown men crying about what this book could mean to veterans," Ruck says. Ward Grant promised to round up support from other celebrities. From there, Ruck describes a snowball effect of contributions which included essays from Oliver North, Buzz Aldrin, Dennis Miller, Paul Teutul, Sr., Fred Travalena and Mickey Rooney. Ruck also gathered quotations that honored veterans from sources ranging from Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jefferson to Maya Angelou and John Wayne. He collected excerpts from some of the most famous American military speeches in history, including Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and George W. Bush's speech on September 11, 2001. Ruck went out of his way to find local photograph each cemetery. His directions to the photographers were simple: be respectful and shoot more than just headstones. Ruck insisted on using images that had not been previously published because he wanted fresh, candid images for the book. "The photographers we had were fantastic. They did an unbelievable job. They were all volunteers; no one was paid," Ruck says. After much research into non-profit organizations for veterans, Ruck was honored to choose the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which gives college scholarships to the children of service members who were killed in action or have a 100% disabled rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "[The foundation] makes sure we don't forget the children: that we say thank-you for the service of their mom or dad," Ruck says. "If you've lost your life or are severely disabled in service to this country, it's the least this country can do." A second wind "Sacred Ground" was published on Veterans Day in 2007 and sold well, reaching a rank of number five in its category on Amazon.com. Ruck took a hiatus from promoting the book in 2008 after his wife's death in January, changing jobs in the middle of the year, moving to Rancho Cucamonga and suffering a heart attack in December. In 2009, Ruck returned to book promotions with renewed vigor, accepting invitations to fly all over the country, giving speeches at ceremonies honoring veterans. Locally, he was the master of ceremonies at the Riverside National Cemetery's Memorial Day Service and will be the keynote speaker at the Los Angeles National Cemetery's Veterans Day Service in November. "The kids deserve it. They deserve my effort to go out and do more with the book. And we're doing it," Ruck says. The four awards the book has won this year are proof that Ruck's tireless efforts are paying off. The Military Writer's Society of America (MWSA) chose Ruck as their Author of the Month for August 2009 and "Sacred Ground" won the MWSA 2009 Gold Medal for Non-Fiction. In Branson, Missouri, the home of America's largest Veterans Day Celebration, "Sacred Ground" was the top photography book, as well as the Overall Grand Prize winner for the Stars and Flags Book Awards. A fact Ruck doesn't often share is that he uses his own money to pay for airfare, lodging, food and rental cars on trips to accept awards and speak at events, which are being scheduled with increasing frequency. And he must juggle book promotions with the demands of his full-time job as a National Sales Director for Spectra Diagnostics. "If it's going to sell more books for the kids, if it's going to heighten the awareness and dedication of our veterans and our troops, and let the country know we have 130 beautiful, gorgeous, serene, dignified cemeteries all around the country, then that's what it's all about," Ruck says. Up next Ruck's selfless giving to veterans and children of veterans will continue through several major projects that are in the works. He's tentatively scheduled for a 10-12 base "Sacred Ground" book signing tour with Army and Air Force Exchange Service next spring. He's also in the 'plans and negotiations' stage of a fund-raising TV special that will feature the choirs of all four military academies singing on stage together for the first time in history. Ruck is also preparing to begin a "Sacred Ground" companion book that will focus on U.S. national cemeteries in Europe. Alongside the photographs of cemeteries, Ruck would like to tell the stories of the towns where the cemeteries are located, many of which still show gratitude for the American service members buried there. Ruck describes a town in Belgium where the school children still learn the "Star Spangled Banner" in English and sing it each year at the American cemetery. He also hopes to share stories of entire ships, airplanes and military units that have perished in battle. Excerpts "Our tears fall gently on the sod where soldiers sleep, while our hearts cry for a life taken too soon. This is sacred soil, consecrated by the sacrifices of those who served as our nation's uniformed guardians. At their memorial services, it matters not whether there is a warm sun or a bitter cold, the silence is what I remember most." Oliver North Essay, "Sacred Ground" "I encourage you to visit one of our national cemeteries. Take your children and grandchildren along so they will begin to understand the responsibility we all have to keep America as strong and as free as it is today. While there, say a prayer for those who fought and died for us. These cemeteries remind us that at some point in our own lives, we may be called upon to sacrifice for our country and to preserve our freedoms and liberties." Bob Dole Forward, "Sacred Ground"