The 6th Branch 

2400 Boston Street, Suite 102Baltimore, MD 21224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

“THE 6TH BRANCH” LAUNCHES NEW LOGO, INCREASES MOMENTUM  

BALTIMORE (January 28, 2013) - Locally-based The 6th Branch (www.the6thbranch.org), a

veteran led 501(c)3 community service organization, is proud to announce a new logo, designed

to reflect the spirit of the organization and create greater brand recognition.

The current logo was created in 2010 by founding member Greg Lamberson and reflects the

sense of patriotism that veterans coming home still feel. The 6th Branch’s origins are in a

Baltimore row home. It started with a group of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who

wanted to continue serving and to improve the world around them, but do so starting at home.

In the original logo, the first five stars represent the five branches

of the military while the sixth recognizes the importance of

civilian service and volunteerism in the community. The tattered

but bold banner harkens back to revolutionary times when an

army of patriots came together to fight for a better life for their

fellow citizens.

In many ways, The 6th Branch is still revolutionary. What started

as a group of five veterans and two civilians has grown into a

family of more than 1,000 citizens from around Baltimore, the

entire state of Maryland, and in some cases across the country.

Operation: Oliver, a project dedicated to revitalizing a blighted East Baltimore neighborhood by

recognizing the needs of the community and then seeking out resources, solutions, or at the

very least, awareness, has become the product of that revolution. The resulting concept of a

veteran sponsored community (VSC) is a modern approach to more than one problem.

Rich Blake, founding member and Board Chair of The 6th Branch, continues to press the

need for using the leadership skills veterans have learned during their service in the places

where America needs them the most. In a statement, he explained what motivated him to be a

part of The 6th Branch’s inception:

“I came home looking for a way to continue my service. What I discovered is that society didn’t 

have very high expectations for me, and I didn’t want to be an old guy sitting at a bar and 

reminiscing about the war. I wanted to be productive. Today’s veterans shouldn’t be relegated to 

headlines about PTSD, homelessness, joblessness or props for federal holidays. The reality is 

that we’re in every city and every community; and we can do things like bring real change to a 

forgotten neighborhood. That message should be spread far and wide. Our motivation and drive 

is a precious resource, virtually untapped by America, and we’ve set out to prove that it’s worth 

tapping into.”  

 

 

With The 6th Branch now firmly rooted in Baltimore and receiving recognition from Mayor

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Governor Martin O’Malley, as well

as press from local, national and international media outlets, the next phase is underway.

The initial phase required finding a voice and being heard. The next step is to continue the work,

grow and amplify the message that service doesn’t end when the uniform is put away  for the

last time.

The logo introduced today, created by Abby

Ferretti, incorporates the culture and spirit of the

organization’s present and its vision for the future.

A hex nut, symbolic of both an anchored

connection and a six-sided bond, reflects the 

relationship being built between veterans of the 

five branches and the civilian community . The

infinite thread at its center reflects a belief that the

need for giving back never ends.

The bold “T6B” is an adoption of the veteran culture of our organization. If there’s an acronym

to be had, the military has one. A few members began using this acronym a couple of years ago

and it caught on. Not only does “T6B” uniquely identify The 6th Branch , it is widely used by

frequent volunteers and core team members of the organization.

The original wording “The 6th Branch” remains in the new logo at its base because the name

is the organization’s foundation. The belief in the concept and a continuous push to explain its 

meaning led to partnerships with schools, businesses and other veterans  in the city and

surrounding areas. The question “What is ‘The 6th Branch’?”  has started thousands of

conversations and helped the organization network to find valuable resources that have been

put to use in the Oliver community and on other projects.

As the organization moves forward, Dave Landymore, Executive Director of The 6th Branch,

said he envisions the T6B model of community service being an example for other veterans who

want to network and bring their local communities together to tackle the toughest challenges. 

“As veterans, it was a sense of duty and willingness to serve that led us to the military in the first 

place. Those feelings don't necessarily just go away upon separation, and what better way to 

serve one's country than to serve IN one's country? T6B is an aggressive organization; we 

believe we can be impactful not only in Oliver but eventually in communities across Baltimore 

City and hopefully encourage our fellow veterans across the nation to continue their service at 

home.”  

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For more information: Jeremy Johnson

 Jeremy@the6thbranch.org or (410) 929-1825