Local women launched social media campaign for freed soldier
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The plight of the only American soldier who was still being held prisoner in Afghanistan inspired a North Carolina woman to launch a social media campaign to bring him home.
Now Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is headed back to the United States. His release came in return for the release of five prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. Bergdahl's parents appeared Saturday afternoon with President Barack Obama in the White House Rose Garden to celebrate the news.
Bergdahl's capture inspired Stephanie Templeman and her friend Kim Wright during an armed forces salute last April. The women started a Facebook page called Bowe's Army.
They did it as a way for his supporters to coordinate and communicate their message and activities.
"We wanted to make sure his family knew we weren't going to forget him no matter what," Templeman said. "No matter the dark days, the cloudy days, we weren't going to give up. Our motto is never give up, never surrender, never forget and we never did."
Templeman said she and others from Bowe's Army plan to take a road trip to Bergdahl's hometown once he returns. They hope to meet him.
