Black Hawk Down Soldier Shares Advice – Leading on the Tough Days
Black Hawk Down Survivor Shares Story
Col. Danny McKnight to Speak Locally - Survivor to Share ‘Black Hawk Down’ Experience and - Introduce Cadet Training Program
Opelika, Alabama, February 9, 2009 – Colonel Danny McKnight, U.S. Army Retired, well-known for his heroic story captured in print and on film in the American favorite Black Hawk Down, will be the keynote speaker at Eastwood Christian School in Salem, Alabama, Wednesday, February 11.
Col. McKnight, a Columbus, Georgia native, spent much of his military career at Fort Benning. His combat duty included tours in Panama (1989) and Somalia (1993). His Black Hawk Down experience in Somalia, as well as 30 years of service in the U.S. Army, gave Col. McKnight a platform to share his experiences with others through motivational speeches, emphasizing a commitment to leadership and what it takes to be successful – even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Award-winning actor Tom Sizemore, whose film credits also include Reservoir Dogs, Heat, Point Break and Enemy of the State, played the gritty McKnight in the 2001 hit, Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott. The movie was based on the Mark Bowden novel of the same name. Sizemore is no stranger to military films, having key roles in Pearl Harbor, Saving Private Ryan and Born on the Fourth of July.
McKnight, speaking at 1:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. EST, will be joined by several officials from the Alabama National Guard, Georgia National Guard and Fort Benning, as well as local, state and federal officials.
The group will be in attendance to celebrate the introduction of the Cadet Training Program, the first of its kind in Alabama. The Program, part of the Alabama State Defense Force, is similar to R.O.T.C. programs already in existence. However, these Cadets will be trained to serve in the Alabama State Defense Force, being called into action in the event that the Alabama National Guard is away on active duty.
“We are honored to sponsor this event, and anyone who has the opportunity to hear Col. McKnight speak about ‘Leading on the Tough Days’ can walk away with a renewed spirit about the true role of being a leader in today’s society,” says Reza Abree, CEO/President of United Consulting, a multi-discipline engineering consulting firm based in Norcross, Georgia.
Event sponsors include Eastwood Christian School, Wal-Mart, Waste Management Corp., United Consulting, Roughton Technologies, A+ Educational Services, and b2 ideas.
Eastwood Christian School is located at 2176 Lee Road 183 in Salem, Alabama, 2 miles off of Hwy. 280, outside of the Opelika city limits. For directions, contact the school at 334-749-1859. For more information about Col. Danny McKnight, visit www.DannyMcKnight.com.