Statement By the Honorable Tom Ridge on Veterans Day

/PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam combat veteran Tom Ridge, the nation's first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and current chairman of the National Organization on Disability, issued the following statement commemorating Veterans Day:

"Today we pay tribute to the valiant service of the United States Armed Forces - those who have protected our nation in wars past and present. We also honor their loved ones, for when one person wears the military uniform, the whole family does, with far-reaching sacrifice. From the recent tragedy at Fort Hood, to our brave fighters on today's front lines, to the long legacy of courage that defines the American story, may we salute those who have faced, and continue to face, the diverse and dangerous demands of war.

"Often the challenges of military life do not end when our troops leave the battlefield. This is particularly true for our wounded warriors, those brave men and women who live every day with emotional and often painful injuries borne on the battlefield. Housing, job training, education and health care make up the 'duffel bag' of issues that these military heroes must shoulder long after they return home.

"On this Veterans Day, as we pause to reflect on the privilege of freedom, the price of it and our duty to it, let us do so with a renewed commitment to help our veterans enjoy the very way of life they have fought so hard to protect."

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The Phoenix Group Launches Wish Foundation for Active Military

/PRNewswire/ -- The Phoenix Group today launched a non-profit foundation that grants wishes for active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and their families. The Foundation strives to relieve the burdens of family separation, re-integration for deployed soldiers, hardship circumstances, and other means of assistance not covered by existing military charities.

The Foundation is driven by an interactive website (www.wish4ourheroes.org) allowing anyone to request a wish for active duty members of our Armed Forces. The website allows 'wish granters' to view wishes and contribute donations. Pictures and accounts of the granted wishes are posted online to allow contributors to see the impact made in the lives of our nations' heroes. The website also has apparel and merchandise available for purchase, and all sales benefit the wish program. The Phoenix Group's for-profit companies will contribute 10% of pretax earnings toward the Foundation, and will give employees the option of contributing a percentage of their paychecks to the cause. The Foundation will also rely on the generosity of other corporations and individuals to grant as many wishes as possible. Many foundations focus on assisting wounded soldiers and families of deceased soldiers, but Phoenix's foundation will focus on providing assistance and rewarding our heroes who may be experiencing other types of hardship.

"The Phoenix Group hires many former military soldiers into our various companies, and we would like to give something back to our nation's heroes who sacrifice so much to defend our great country," said Jeff Wells, President of Phoenix's Wish For Our Heroes Foundation.

The Foundation is headquartered in Greenwood, IN, with a second office in Houston, TX. It is dedicated in memory of 1SG Thomas G. Wells (1933-2009), a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as all of our active duty military heroes. To learn more, volunteer, or make a donation, visit www.wish4ourheroes.org.

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Atlanta Braves pay tribute to members of the United States Military and Armed Forces Veterans on Military Appreciation Night Saturday, May 23

This Memorial Day Weekend, the Atlanta Braves will honor the United States Military and pay tribute to those have served our country on Military Appreciation Night, Saturday, May 23rd. The Atlanta Braves invited fans to join the team in sending our nation's heroes to Turner Field for Military Appreciation Night, and thanks to a generous response, nearly 1000 members of the military will attend the game free of charge. Atlanta Braves Brian McCann, Mike Gonzalez, Kenshin Kawakami, and Rafael Soriano, and the Atlanta Braves Foundation are also among those providing tickets to recognize the service and sacrifices made by members of our nation's Armed Forces. Tributes planned for Military Appreciation Night include:

• Volunteers from Operation HomeFront, an organization that supports families of those fighting overseas, will present a giant American flag from Fort McPherson during special pre-game ceremonies.

• A pre-game tribute will honor local Purple Heart recipients, including veterans from World War II, Vietnam, the Korean Conflict, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• The 3rd Infantry Division Band from Fort Stewart, Georgia, will perform the National Anthem. The Fort Stewart Band will also entertain fans before the game from 5:30-6:30 in Fan Plaza.

• The Air Force Reserve Command's 94th Airlift Wing from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, will perform a flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

• Nine members of the U.S. Military will "take the field" with the Atlanta Braves starting lineup to begin the game.

• An in-game ceremony will honor a local "Hometown Hero." Every game at Turner Field, the Braves "Hometown Heroes" program salutes one active military individual who has recently returned from the Middle East and has gone above and beyond in the call of duty.

• Recording artists Jessa and Alicia will lead the crowd in God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

Every game at Turner Field, members of the military can receive a 2-for-1 ticket offer on Upper Box seats by showing their military ID at the Turner Field ticket windows.

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A Million Minutes of Talk Time for Soldiers Thanks to Pak Mail

/PRNewswire/ -- Pak Mail centers around the country collected more than 17,700 unused cell phones that have been donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization that recycles the phones and uses the proceeds to buy prepaid calling cards that are sent to soldiers. The recycled cell phones collected by Pak Mail resulted in 1,070,000 minutes of talk time connecting soldiers with their families.

"Our armed forces count on the support of Americans to connect with their loved ones while serving abroad," said Brittany Bergquist, co-founder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. "The fantastic work of partners like Pak Mail Centers of America, Inc. is what makes this charity possible. We thank them for all they have done to help our service members."

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then the 501(c)3 non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.

The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone - enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world.

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