Ogilvy & Mather Helps To Welcome Back The Vets
October 29, 2007
Major League Baseball Charities, in partnership with The Advertising Council, today launched a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign entitled “Welcome Back Veterans.” The work was done pro bono by Ogilvy & Mather. Featuring a voice over by Tom Hanks, the first spot debuted during game three of The World Series. Despite the Red Sox having managed to win – again! – the commercials and radio PSAs will continue to receive air time.
“Major League Baseball has a long and proud history of supporting our troops and for generations baseball has undertaken patriotic activities to acknowledge veterans and current members of the military who serve and have served our country,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) worked with MLB and the Ad Council in the development of the spots to address some of the serious reintegration issues suffered by vets such as unemployment and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, upon their return.
Did you see the Ken Burns documentary ‘The War?’ Things were different during the bleak days of WWII. The nation pulled together with everyone suffering just a little bit for a war that was widely considered worthwhile. The imagery of strangers welcoming home “the boys and girls” from overseas (and we’re not just talking about D-Day) nearly brought us to tears. Whether or not you think the war is just, the members of our armed forces are just “doing their jobs.” And, what crazy, hard, unbelievably taxing jobs they are. Alright. We’re done inserting our views. Let’s just say we’re all for doing whatever one can to help any solider or Marine.
