FREEDOM FLAG FOUNDATION BOARD
Listed below are the profiles of the Freedom Flag Foundation's Board Members. These selfless ladies and gentlemen contribute their time and talents in an effort to ensure that future generations of the United States "Never Forget" the events of September 11, 2001.
MARY ELIZABETH DANIEL (LIBBY)
Board Member
Mary Elizabeth Daniel (Libby) is retired from Powhatan County Public Schools after 22 years in educational administration. Libby holds a B. A. from N. C. State University and a M. S. W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously Libby worked for The N. C. Department of Mental Health in evaluation services for children and families. Libby is married to Carl R. Daniel and they have one son, Scott who lives in Charlotte, N. C. She serves on The Freedom Flag Foundation Board where her passion for and experience in education can contribute to The Board's mission of remembrance and triumph for generations of children.
Vice President & Board Member
Joshua Dickerson is a Product Owner with Advantasure and is currently serving as Vice President of the Freedom Flag Foundation. Joshua holds 2 degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. The first degree is in Political Science and the second is in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Joshua was part of one of the first classes in the country to receive such a degree. His hope is that with bi-partisan support, at all levels of government, the education efforts of the Foundation will be used nationally, the Freedom Flag will become the National Symbol or Remembrance and the monument will become a reality. He currently lives in Henrico, VA with his wife and two children.
KAREN EVANS
Board Member
JOSHUA DICKERSON
Karen Evans is the Director of Culture and Development at Monument Consulting. A native of New Jersey, she moved down to Richmond after graduating from Cornell University in 2003. After her first GORUCK endurance event in 2013, she began to get more involved with her local and national veteran communities, volunteering and leading events to honor those that fought for our country. In 2017 she joined the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) as the Lead Race Director for the Richmond 9/11 Heroes Run. Through the 9/11 Heroes Run, she met several board members of the Freedom Flag Foundation and admired their passion to educate our youth and to Never Forget. She lives in Chesterfield County with her husband and son born in 2024.
Jason Hunter, a natural transplant to Richmond via North Florida since 2013 joined the Freedom Flag Foundation in 2020. From a young age he learned about love of Country, American patriotism, and civic duty from grandfathers and uncle’s that served in WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. The time spent with them helped him develop a strong passion of loyalty to our Nation and its values. He holds a BA and MBA in Business and has worked for UPS for the past 33 years where he’s currently a Director of Linehaul overseeing the UPS Freight network. Jason currently serves as the Foundation’s Treasurer.
Treasurer & Board Member
JASON HUNTER
MOLLY KAUFMAN
Board Member
Originally from Helena, Montana, Molly joined the Freedom Flag Foundation in 2019. Molly, and her family moved to Richmond in 2012 upon the retirement of her husband, Matt, from the U.S. Army. Prior to Richmond, Molly, and her family lived in the United Kingdom, Texas, Illinois, Korea, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Wisconsin! September 11, 2001 holds many memories for Molly for all the obvious reasons, but specifically because of the events of that day, her husband would begin a series of deployments that would span ten years. In those years, Molly worked extensively with organizations helping families whose spouses were deployed into combat zones, and families who had lost a Soldier in combat. Molly holds a bachelor’s degree from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Cambridge University in Cambridge, England. Molly is married to Matthew, a retired LTC in the U.S. Army. They have two children, Amelia (11), and Augustus (9), and are proud parents to Lulu the deaf Wonder Bulldog.
TARA KROHN
Board Member
Tara Krohn joined the Freedom Flag Foundation Board in January of 2020. Tara has been teaching in Chesterfield County Public Schools since 1999. On September 11th, 2001, she vividly remembers trying to continue on as “life as normal” in front of her innocent class of students at Woolridge Elementary School. Since then, she has vowed to never let her students forget the importance of that historical day. After hosting a World Trade Center steel artifact from Tower 1 on loan from the Freedom Flag Foundation, Tara became inspired to write a children’s book: Unfurling the Freedom Flag: A 9/11 Story, which is currently in the works. This project will be one of her greatest professional and personal honors. Tara has received recognitions as Elementary Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County (2019), R.E.B Award for Teaching Excellence (2014), National Teacher of the Year for Magic Treehouse (2015), and Virginia Social Studies Teacher of the Year (2004). When not teaching, Tara can be found cheering on her JMU Dukes, taking photographs, camping with Scouts, or on an adventure with her husband and fellow teacher, Doug, two children, Riley and Scott, and their yellow lab, Camper.
Founder & Board Member
Richard N. Melito is the owner of Melito’s Restaurant which was established in 1981. In 2001 Richard designed the Freedom Flag, and in 2002 he founded The Freedom Flag Foundation. Richard is currently the Secretary of the Freedom Flag Foundation. The Freedom Flag was recognized by Governor Mark Warner and the State of Virginia as the state’s symbol of remembrance. The Freedom Flag Foundation’s mission statement is to educate school children and make sure that Americans will not forget the acts of terrorism against our nation. Richard’s passion to live the mission is the main force behind the project.
President & Board Member
John Riley joined the Freedom Flag Foundation board in 2008 and is currently serving as the Foundation’s President. On September 11, 2001, John lost one of his best friends in the attacks on the World Trade Center. He currently resides in Midlothian, VA and he and his wife Kristen have 2 children in college and 2 in high school. His desire to remember the victims of 9-11 and educate current and future generations of students about the events of 9-11 has made the Freedom Flag Foundation's mission a passionate cause for him. John is a Professional Engineer and Traffic Section Leader for the Richmond office of Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. He has worked in consulting in the areas of transportation planning and traffic engineering for over 25 years, and he holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering as well as a B.A. in Spanish, all from Virginia Tech. John is also an Eagle Scout.
CLARENCE SINGLETON
Board Member
Clarence Singleton is a native of Sumter, South Carolina and graduated in 1967 from Lincoln High School. In 1975 he attended New York City Community College while working full time as a Quality Control Supervisor at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. In 2001 he attended the Fire Science Institute of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, becoming a Fire Safety Director. He is a retired United States Marine, a veteran of the Vietnam War, a Purple Heart recipient and a highly decorated retired New York City Fire Lieutenant of 22 years. He was responsible for saving many lives during the World Trade Center attack in 1993 and was seriously injured volunteering during the 9/11/2001 attack. In 2013 he published his first book “The Heart of a Hero”. Clarence has spent the last several years dedicated to keeping the events of 9/11 alive and delivering motivational speeches throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The past three years he delivered the keynote address, at the Chesterfield County Honor and Remembrance Ceremony, commemorating the anniversary of 9/11. He currently resides in Midlothian, Virginia with his wife Mary Jean.
Pascale Thomas became involved with the Freedom Flag Foundation in 2019 and joined the board in 2020. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA. With a focus in process improvement and management, she has worked for various Fortune 500 companies and, most recently, for the State of Virginia. On 9/11 Pascale was supposed to be in the Pentagon but was instead in the building across the street where she witnessed the plane go down at the Pentagon. Both she and her husband are survivors of the aftermath of 9/11 and are keen to ensuring the legacy and learnings of that day for generations to come. Pascale and her husband live in Midlothian, VA and have two daughters.
RICHARD N. MELITO
JOHN RILEY
Secretary & Board Member