GLWACH Public Affairs Office
You can make a difference, even if you don’t smoke. The Great American Smokeout is an American Cancer Society initiative with the purpose of nationally drawing attention to prevention and cessation of tobacco use.
The effort started in 1970 in Randolph, Massachusetts, when Arthur Mullaney challenged people to quit smoking at least for one day and donate the money they’d have spent on cigarettes to a high school scholarship fund.
On Nov. 18, 1976, one million smokers pledged to be tobacco free due to the efforts of the California Division of the American Cancer Society. This successful event was marked as the first Smokeout, which went nationwide the following year. The events led to establishments becoming smoke free zones, raising taxes on cigarettes, limiting cigarette promotions, and discouraging teen cigarette use.
You can make a difference by participating in Fort Leonard Wood’s Great American Smokeout event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. You can help support the Great American Smokeout efforts, increase awareness, and work toward improving the health of our force by pledging to be tobacco free.
Booths will be set up around the installation, at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital’s dining facility, the Post Exchange, Mini-mall and the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence’s Thurman Hall.
Also remember to refrain from smoking during the national Great American Smokeout Nov. 15.
For more information, call GLWACH’s Public Health Clinic at 573.593.0491.
