Stars of Lifetime’s hit series Army Wives joined real-life army wives and active military personnel Tuesday night for a red carpet event and advanced screening of an upcoming episode at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“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,” Maria Grasso, senior vice president, series development, Lifetime Networks, said in a statement. “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.”
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.
Military families were front and center throughout the evening, as Lifetime also launched its postcard drive at the event. Beginning this month, 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 morale to the troops, the families they leave behind, and to wounded soldiers when they return home.
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 Sunday night, July 6, at 10 p.m. ET.
