Iraq Veteran Hikes U.S., Gathers Signatures for National 'Day of the Deployed'

/PRNewswire/ -- Iraq veteran Troy Yocum is beginning a journey of 7,000 miles on foot with a special message for the President and DC politicians from leaders around the country.

Crossing 30 states and 37 major cities in a sixteen-month effort dubbed "Drum Hike," Yocum will raise donations, support and awareness for military families who need financial assistance. He will also carry with him a Louisville Slugger baseball bat adorned with the signatures of hundreds of mayors and dozens of governors who are urging the president to declare a "National Day of the Deployed" to honor the sacrifices of military families in this time of war.

Yesterday, Yocum procured the signature of Louisville's Mayor Jerry Abramson. He will add eight more Kentucky mayors and the state's governor during the first two weeks of his hike. Forty-two additional mayors and governors have expressed an interest in adding their signatures during the hike, and hundreds more are expected. Yocum will present the bat to the White House at the conclusion of his hike.

Other events associated with the Drum Hike will span the nation, including motorcycle rallies, a Blue Star Mothers convention, mini marathons, concerts, a skydiver and the largest American flag to trail a licensed vehicle. Yocum will also participate in baseball-related patriotic activities at 20 stadiums, and attend ceremonies to rename highways for fallen heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415. For more information on Drum Hike, see www.drumhike.com or call 510-305-0004.

Cell Phones for Soldiers Announces Free Phone Program for Returning Troops

/PRNewswire/ -- In response to a growing need to support military members returning from active duty, Cell Phones for Soldiers today announced an expansion of their services by offering free cell phones to all armed forces returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To achieve this goal, the charity is calling on all Americans to donate their old phones to the cause. The free phones are drawn from those donated by individuals and corporations; to achieve this goal, an additional 1 million phones will need to be donated in 2010.

"With tens of thousands of our brave troops returning from active duty this year, the need to help them get back on their feet here at home has never been greater," said Brittany Bergquist, cofounder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. "We are thrilled to be able to provide this tremendous service to our brave men and women."

The Helping Heroes Home campaign relies on the donations of used phones. Qualifying phones are refurbished and given to requesting soldiers along with a month of calling time. Other donated phones will either be recycled or used to fund the charity's free calling-card program for troops overseas.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by brother and sister Robbie and Brittany Bergquist. To date, they have provided more than 60,000,000 minutes of free calling cards thanks to a national network of individual and corporate supporters donating phones and money.

"There are more than 130 million phones retired every year in the United States," said Robbie Bergquist, cofounder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. "If just 2% of all American's were to donate their phones, we could supply every troop with a phone as a small measure of the gratitude of a nation."

Sponsors for this initiative include the Consumer Electronics Association, One Source Inc. and ReCellular Inc.

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Military Heroes to Gather in Washington

/PRNewswire/ -- Many of America's most celebrated and distinguished veterans from World War II through the present day will converge on Washington, DC from November 12-14 for the American Veterans Center's 12th Annual Conference.

In the largest gathering of its kind in the nation, these men and women who have served in many of the defining moments in military history over the past 65 years will share their experiences with an audience of several hundred high school and college students, active duty military, and fellow veterans. The events will take place at the United States Navy Memorial's Burke Theater.

Headlining the event will be General David Petraeus, Commander, U.S. CENTCOM and former Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq. General Petraeus will be taking questions from the audience on Friday, November 13.

Also joining the conference on the 40th anniversary of his Apollo 11 moon landing will be retired Air Force colonel Buzz Aldrin. Col. Aldrin will also take questions, and will be honored at the Center's Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 14, along with veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Others participating include:
-- The Band of Brothers -- Veterans portrayed in the acclaimed HBO
miniseries.
-- Bob Feller -- U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII and Hall of Fame Baseball
Pitcher.
-- "Dutch" Van Kirk -- Navigator of Enola Gay, the B-29 that deployed the
first atomic bomb.
-- Lorenzo DuFau -- USS Mason, first Navy ship with a mainly African
American crew in WWII.
-- Edgar Whitcomb -- Former Governor of Indiana and POW of the Japanese
during WWII.
-- Shelby Westbrook -- Tuskegee Airman of WWII and pilot of 60-plus
combat missions.
-- Thomas Hudner Jr., Roger H.C. Donlon, & Alfred Rascon -- Medal of
Honor recipients.
-- Black Hawk Down -- Men portrayed in the award winning film.
-- Army Nursing Panel -- On the history and role in opening doors for
women to serve.
-- Iraq and Afghanistan -- Several of the most highly decorated veterans.

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200,000 'I Served Stickers' Shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

/PRNewswire/ -- OBX, BB and HH are just a few of the beach-town stickers you've seen on car bumpers. And if Scott Kreger has his way, every veteran returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan will have free stickers bearing the abbreviation "IRQ" or "AFG" with the words "I Served" underneath.

"I hope that people will approach our courageous veterans and thank them for their service when they see the sticker," says Kreger, who created the concept. "I also see these stickers as a way for fellow veterans to identify and talk with each other. These connections could lead to networking opportunities, jobs and support in tough times."

About 40 volunteers stuffed 20,000 envelopes and packages on Saturday. The first wave of stickers will appear in towns across all 50 states and the U.S. territories, as well as the coalition troop countries, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

"It's a small way to say thank you, but the response has been overwhelming," says Kreger. So far, he has received requests for about 200,000 stickers.

The project is funded entirely by private donations. Kreger has raised nearly $40,000 of the $100,000 he anticipates needing to cover printing and mailing for 1.5 million stickers to give to every soldier who has served or might serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Remembrance Ceremony Honors Fallen Military Medics

Deborah Mullen, wife of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks at the first Remembrance Ceremony in Dedication to Fallen Military Medical Personnel at Arlington National Cemetery, March 11, 2009. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Beneath the rows of simple white headstones evenly spaced beneath a dull and cloudy mid-March sky, the stories of those who rest at Arlington National Cemetery here today are anything but ordinary.

Some were killed by heavy machine-gun fire. Others were showered with rockets or mortars. And many were surprised by the explosion of an unexpected roadside bomb. But for the more than 210 military medics, corpsmen, doctors and nurses who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, they were killed trying to save others, the Defense Department's top medical official said.

"Their motto is 'Good medicine, bad places,'" Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant defense secretary for health affairs, said during the first remembrance ceremony and wreath laying for military medical personnel killed in the war on terror. "When it mattered most, they answered the call."

More than 100 friends, relatives and military members turned out for what officials plan to make an annual event to honor their loved ones and pay homage to a profession that almost always places its practitioners in difficult situations.

Casscells, who's also an Army Reserve colonel in the medical corps, talked of his fellow medics and corpsmen who never hesitated to treat their enemy. He read excerpts of medics who were so badly wounded they died giving first aid instructions calmly to others, because they couldn't provide the treatment themselves. He talked of others who gave their last minutes of life bandaging Iraqi children after a suicide bomb detonated.

"The decisions these medics and doctors and nurses make on the battlefield are a triumph of the human spirit," he said. "No greater love has any man than this than to lay down his life for his friends -- and they have done exactly that.

Combat medics have one of the highest-risk jobs in the military, he said, noting the intense, rigorous training they undergo to save lives.

"They had training that didn't exist in Vietnam or World War II," he said. "They're training to the level of [emergency medical treatment] and higher because of the tactical combat environment. They're so intensively trained in things that would make a [civilian] doctor pause."

More than 5,000 U.S. military lives have been lost on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan under the backdrop of guerilla warfare and unpredictably sophisticated tactics and military capability. However, thousands more may have been lost if not for medics and corpsmen first responders in the field, he said.

"Their skill and their bravery is the single most important reason why the fatality rate today in Iraq and Afghanistan is 10 percent vs. 23 percent in Vietnam," he said. "This is despite much more powerful munitions, munitions which explode right under your vehicle."

Deborah Mullen, wife of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered her condolences and praised the military medical corps for their devotion to others. She said to remember them not for the life that was lost, but for the lives they saved.

"We come here today to pay tribute to the heroes of our heroes -- the men and women who risked their own lives and limbs to save the lives and limbs of others," Mullen said. "Time cannot describe and words fail to convey the fidelity and ardor in which these brave souls did their duty."

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

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Sharing Experiences And Accessing Resources Helps Vets Reconnect

(NAPSI)-There are 1.7 million men and women who have served or are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, with even more Americans enlisting in the military as the national economy continues to suffer. Among those military service members who have returned, nearly 20 percent-300,000 in all-report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression, yet only slightly more than half seek treatment, according to a 2008 RAND Corporation study.

Untreated mental health conditions can cause or aggravate other debilitating problems in the veterans' community, including high rates of unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, divorce and suicide. As recently reported, suicide rates among the Army are the highest they have been in three decades. To address these issues and help ease the transition of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans returning home, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Ad Council launched a national public service campaign, which directs veterans to a new social networking Web site, www.CommunityofVeterans.org, where veterans can connect with each other, listen, share their experiences and access resources, all in a forum exclusive to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Research shows that veterans of these two wars face unprecedented and unique challenges. For example, while veterans of World War II represented 12 percent of the U.S. population, less than 1 percent of the current population has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, more than 60 percent of Americans say that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan "never," "hardly ever" or "sometimes" have an impact on their daily lives, according to a recent survey by IAVA and the Ad Council. By maintaining relationships and communicating regularly with others who have shared experiences, veterans are better able to reconnect with their friends, families and communities.

"When I returned home from Iraq, it was frustrating to feel like no one could understand what I had been through, not even my family and closest friends. I felt tremendously isolated and soon those emotions turned to anger and resentment," said Bryan Adams, a veteran of Iraq and a Purple Heart recipient. "Connecting with other vets who had similar experiences was the most valuable way for me to heal and move forward with my life."

Through the Community of Veterans, IAVA and Ad Council are hoping to encourage veterans to share their experiences with mental health injuries in a judgment-free environment. Many veterans avoid seeking help because of the stigma around seeking treatment or being diagnosed with a mental illness. Supporting each other and knowing that they are not alone is an important step the community can take to help overcome that stigma.

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Papa John’s Founder John Schnatter Serves Pizza to Troops Stationed in Kuwait

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2003 Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA) made one of its most important deliveries ever when it delivered pizzas to air force troops stationed in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. This week, Papa John’s Founder John Schnatter did one better by visiting the region and helping serve more than 250 troops stationed at Camp Buehring in Kuwait.

Schnatter also was able to speak with the troops, thanking them for their service and all they do to keep America safe.

“It was an honor serving the troops and giving them a little taste of home,” said Schnatter. “I think sometimes we take for granted the sacrifice our troops and their families make so that we are able to enjoy our freedom at home. On behalf of all of Papa John’s, this was just one small way of saying thank you.”

The event was organized by Khalid Alrashid, Papa John’s franchisee in Kuwait, who brought all the equipment necessary to make the pizzas, including an oven, to the base. After serving the troops at Camp Buehring, the group made an additional delivery to the local USO.

“Doing events like this helps demonstrate how committed John, and Papa John’s, is to our core values,” said Myles Felt, Papa John’s vice president of international operations. “John spent many hours saying hello and taking photos with every soldier. He once again showed that people are the most important part of our business.”

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Wounded Veterans to Get Laptop Computers

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three hundred soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon receive specially-adapted laptop computers, thanks to military support nonprofit Soldiers' Angels and The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAF). The laptops will be funded through SAAF's Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD), which has awarded Soldiers' Angels a $210,000 grant to fund Project Valour-IT in the San Antonio area.

The grant is expected to purchase at least 300 laptops, which will be distributed as gifts to wounded veterans undergoing treatment at San Antonio's Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) or living in the surrounding area. The computers will be used for communication, post-military employment preparation and physical and occupational therapy, and will be fitted with adaptive technology from the Department of Defense for severely injured users, including voice-control. As one of the largest treatment facilities for wounded veterans in America, BAMC is a major hub for Project Valour-IT and Soldiers' Angels works closely with caseworkers there to identify recovering service members in need of a laptop.

Wounded veteran and Valour-IT co-creator Chuck Ziegenfuss knows firsthand the power of Valour-IT. He reports that using a voice-controlled laptop while he recovered was "the first time I felt whole since I'd woken up wounded."

This is the third SAAF/TRIAD grant for Soldiers' Angels, forming a growing bond between the two organizations and furthering the reach of Project Valour-IT, which has already distributed 3,000 laptops nationwide. "With the money from this grant we will be able to touch many more heroes who need Valour-IT Laptops," says Soldiers' Angels Veterans Support Team leader, Twyla Choate. "Soldiers' Angels is thrilled to once again be given the opportunity to help those who have done so much for us."

About SAAF: The San Antonio Area Foundation aspires to significantly enhance the quality of life of our community by providing outstanding service to donors, producing significant asset growth, strengthening community collaboration and managing an exemplary grants program. A publicly supported philanthropic institution, the San Antonio Area Foundation is governed by a board of private citizens chosen for their knowledge of and involvement in the community. For over 44 years, it has successfully administered funds from individuals, agencies, corporations and others who contribute or bequeath assets for the betterment of the community. For more information, visit www.saafdn.org.

About Soldiers' Angels: Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415

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"Pizzas 4 Patriots" Initiative to Support U.S. Troops at Super Bowl Celebrations Overseas

(BUSINESS WIRE)--DHL, the world’s leading express delivery and logistics company, with the support of a local Chicago-area business and community members will deliver thousands of freshly frozen pizzas to U.S. servicemen and women serving throughout Iraq and Afghanistan in time for Super Bowl XLIII celebrations.

In 2008 a suburban Chicago Veteran, MSgt. Mark Evans, was inspired by his son’s idea to send thousands of pizzas to the troops in time for July 4th celebrations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year he’s continuing his family’s mission by organizing the delivery of more than 2,000 pizzas for Super Bowl celebrations. Evans collected enough donations to purchase all of the pizzas, provided below cost by Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria of Northbrook, Illinois.

DHL, which flies directly to many of the U.S. bases in Iraq, has agreed to donate its shipping services for delivery of the pizzas.

Thousands of pizza’s packaged in temperature-controlled containers will be picked up Friday, January 23, at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, and loaded onto DHL trucks. The shipment will fly from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York directly to the Middle East, with delivery to military bases just in time for Super Bowl celebrations.

“As a retired member of the military, I appreciate the support of the local community and DHL helping bring reminders of home to our U.S. troops stationed thousands of miles away,” said Ret. Sgt. Mark Evans. “The reactions we have received by families, friends of the military and the troops themselves about this initiative have been heartwarming.”

DHL was the first international air express carrier to provide service to Iraq and Afghanistan following the lifting of sanctions and now operates the most extensive logistics service into these countries.

“As the specialists in international shipping, DHL is honored to leverage its global network and transport this shipment to lift the spirits of our servicemen and women based in the Middle East,” said Adrian Watts, Managing Director U.S. Government Sales and Support for DHL Express. “It’s part of our ongoing efforts to support our troops, and honor our U.S. servicemen and women who help keep us all safe.”

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Hooters of Savannah and Operation Homefront Georgia Hosts Christmas Party for the Troops

/PRNewswire/ -- On December 25, Hooters of Savannah is partnering with Operation Homefront Georgia to host an exclusive Christmas party for the service personnel returning home to Ft. Stewart after being deployed for 15 months in Iraq. Hooters of Savannah is expecting about 200 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division to enjoy free food and presents from the Hooters Girls. Hooters of Savannah is located at 4 Gateway Blvd.

"Many of these young soldiers have no family in the area and are not permitted to travel any distance from the base for 30 days, so Operation Homefront Georgia asked Hooters to help put something together for these single soldiers," stated Leenie Ruben, Development Director for Operation Homefront Georgia. "They will be the honored guests of the Savannah Hooters on Christmas Day."

From 1:00 - 4:00 PM the Savannah Hooters will be open only to the soldiers during the private party. Homefront Georgia Volunteers along with HOPE (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) dogs and handlers will be on hand to assist the Hooters Girls, all of whom volunteered to work on their holiday.

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Coalition to Salute America's Heroes(TM) Hosts Record Turnout of Wounded Veterans, Families for 2008 'Road to Recovery Conference & Tribute'

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a not-for-profit dedicated to helping severely wounded veterans of the War on Terror, brought more than 150 severely wounded veterans, their families and their caregivers to the 5th Annual Road to Recovery Conference & Tribute, Sunday Dec. 7 through Thursday, Dec. 11 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL.

The all-expense-paid event featured medical and career counseling, an adaptive sports clinic, motivational speakers, musical entertainment, and an opportunity to share inspirational success stories and form a lasting network of support.

"Tens of thousands of American troops have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan severely wounded, struggling to heal from physical and mental wounds, pay for medical and other bills, and re-enter civilian life," said Dan Vargas, director of the CSAH Family Support Network.

Donny Daughenbaugh, CSAH National Spokesman and Grassroots Events Director, described every Road to Recovery attendee as a "true American hero."

"It's great to see my fellow wounded veterans and their families come together, share experiences and learn that there is a community of support that they can rely on to help them on their road to recovery," he said.

Highlights of the Road to Recovery Conference included:

Adaptive Sports Clinic - The clinic, which included adaptive skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and mountain biking, was adapted for use by amputees, the blind, and those with traumatic brain injury, not only served as a form of physical, but also psychological therapy.

Career Fair - Helping attendees transition from a military to a civilian lifestyle, the conference featured a job fair, resume writing and interviewing skills classes, and an employment panel, which led to successful job placements for veterans.

Entertainment - Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, the Vandel-Snook Band, and artist Dan Dunn wowed the crowd, while up-and-coming country music star, wounded veteran and conference attendee Stephen Cochran surprised his fellow veterans and their families with a performance at the closing ceremony. Veterans were also given tickets to Walt Disney World, where they were able to share much needed quality time with their families.

Counseling Sessions - CSAH and a team of counselors from the Department of Veterans Affairs provided counseling sessions for the veterans, their spouses, caregivers and children to enable interactive conversation and facilitate the creation of a lasting support network to aid in the recovery process.

"There's nothing the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes won't do for a disabled vet," said Ssgt. Matthew Keil, a disabled Army veteran who attended the conference with his wife Tracy. "This is the only place where we have been able to meet others who understand what we're going through and find the right kind of support that we need. I'm with 150 families here that understand me and get it."

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