Charity Download of "Declaration Anthem" Featured in FOX Super Bowl Salute to U.S. to Help U.S. Wounded Soldiers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--"Declaration Anthem," the score created by award-winning Placement Music, LLC for the FOX SUPER BOWL SUNDAY presentation of the 'Declaration of Independence' during Sunday's pre-show is now available as a charity single and ringtone on iTunes and Amazon.com (Keyword Declaration Anthem). A portion of proceeds from the full-length score of "Declaration Anthem," a radio edit version and a ringtone goes directly to benefit Wounded Warrior Project. The non-profit, whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, reports an estimated 40,000 U.S. service members have been wounded in the current world conflict alone, and more than 300,000 suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"Placement Music is proud of 'Declaration Anthem' and our collaboration with FOX Sports. As 100 million people (the most viewed broadcast ever) in more than 200 countries tuned-in, we want to ensure the men and women who are active duty or retired military know how proud we are of them and how grateful," said Tammy Hurt, founder of Placement Music. "We are honored to make 'Declaration Anthem' accessible to the world and hope everyone who watched The Super Bowl will be compelled to tell others how to help. After all, there are hundreds of thousands of men and women who served our country so nobly that now need our help."

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It's Never Too Late To Say 'Thank You' to Our Nation's Veterans: Even at The End of Life

/PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD, President/CEO, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization:

Americans across the country celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, a special day to salute the men and women who have bravely served our country in the military.

These fellow Americans have made profound sacrifices in defense of freedom and they deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. Honoring our nation's Veterans includes supporting them throughout their entire lives, especially at the end.

As our nation marks Veterans Day 2010, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization deepens its commitment to increase Veterans' access to the compassionate, high quality care available from the nation's hospice and palliative care providers.

NHPCO has been a long-time supporter of the valuable work being done by the Department of Veterans Affairs to bring palliative care services to VA Medical Centers and the communities they serve.

This past month, NHPCO in collaboration with the VA, took a great step forward to help healthcare providers better serve Veterans at life's end by launching the website www.WeHonorVeterans.org, the centerpiece of the new We Honor Veterans campaign. This campaign will help those who provide care at the end of life, better understand the unique needs of our nation's Veterans.

But there is something that every American can do to honor and serve our Veterans – and that is to say, "thank you." Not just on November 11 but all year long.

Ask your friends, neighbors, coworkers and others in your community whether they have served in the military (you may be surprised how many have)—and thank those who have served for their sacrifice.

A generation of World War II and Korean War Veterans are facing end-of-life care decisions now, and they are quickly being followed by younger Vietnam War Veterans, many of whom are confronting serious illnesses at an even earlier age.

It surprises many Americans to learn that every day, 1,800 Veterans die. That's more than 680,000 Veterans every year – or 25 percent of all the people who die in this country annually.

The liberty that we, as US citizens, enjoy comes at a price paid by these valiant men and women. Let each of us make sure we do our part to recognize and support them throughout their lives.

If you know a Veteran who is in need of the special care hospice and palliative care brings to people facing serious and life-limiting illness, please reach out and help them learn more about care options. Information is available from NHPCO's Caring Connections at www.caringinfo.org or by calling the HelpLine at 1-800-658-8898.

To all our nation's Veterans, thank you.

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SunTrust Invites You to Say Thank You to the Heroes in Your Life with 'Solid Salutes' Personalized Video

/PRNewswire/ -- This Memorial Day, Father's Day or "just because," pay tribute to the solid people in your life who go above and beyond and make a difference. With SunTrust Bank's "Solid Salutes," you can send a free, customized video thank you as unique as the person you're honoring - whether a loved one or friend in the military, a parent, special mentor, or your neighbor.

"The Solid Salutes video is a unique way to pay tribute to our servicemen and women and to say thank you to those who have shown us what it means to live solid," said Rilla Delorier, Chief Marketing Officer, SunTrust Bank. "We encourage people to share the video with their friends and family through the Internet, Facebook and Twitter so they, too, can pass it on."

Featuring photos of our country's military personnel and veterans and everyday heroes along with the song, "Thank You" by Diana DeGarmo, the video can be personalized by adding your own photo and message or can be sent as is. Intuitive and easy to customize, at www.suntrust.com/solidsalutes, the video takes only a few simple steps to create, review and send your own tribute. There's also an option to share this site with friends and family.

Beginning May 26 through Father's Day, June 20, you can visit www.suntrust.com/solidsalutes, to send a message to anyone who is a solid hero in your life - anywhere in the world.

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The American Legion and Military Channel Launch 'American Heroes' Vignettes Honoring Those Who Served in Iraq, Afghanistan

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion and Military Channel have teamed up to honor troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including three soldiers who never made it back home. A series of ten, one-minute vignettes, "American Heroes" premieres Memorial Day on the Military Channel, which co-sponsored the production with The American Legion - the country's largest veterans service organization with about 2.5 million members worldwide.

Produced by Creative Street Entertainment, "American Heroes" includes the dramatic and poignant stories of those who fell in battle, suffered severe injuries, helped repair war-torn communities, or made it home to help other wounded warriors. Each American hero is honored with a Norman Rockwell Moments portrait at the close of the vignette. The profiles will air on the Military Channel for an entire year, starting with the network's live coverage of the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT.

"The 'American Heroes' stories are a collection that encompasses several different aspects of what it means to be a hero in wartime. First and foremost, we think of those who gave their lives - those whose memories we will honor forever," said Clarence Hill, national commander for The American Legion.

"Then there are those who return home with severe injuries, yet go on to succeed in the civilian world. We have American heroes who take care of wounded troops at VA hospitals, who have helped Iraqi children in their devastated cities, or who have taught their own families how to be heroes," Hill said. These vignettes really highlight the sacrifices of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how veterans of those wars continue to serve our country."

"Partnering with The American Legion to create these 'American Heroes' vignettes is emblematic of Military Channel's commitment to sharing compelling stories of heroism from within the U.S. Armed Services," said Henry Schleiff, general manager and president of Military Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater. "And what better day to launch these poignant stories than Memorial Day, a hallowed day for our country to recognize the accomplishments and sacrifices of the men and women serving in uniform, who have preserved our freedom and liberties while bringing security to the world."

The 11 individuals featured in the "American Heroes" vignettes are: Patrick Brady and his daughter, Meghan; David Brown, Tammy Duckworth, Dawn Halfaker, Nick Madaras, Jose Pequeno, Robert Posivio, Joseph Proctor, John Schatzel and Klay South.

Madaras, Posivio and Proctor died in Iraq; Proctor received the Silver Star. Duckworth, an assistant secretary in the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, was a pilot who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down. Halfaker, vice president of the Wounded Warrior Project, lost an arm when an RPG exploded near her Humvee.

South, who founded the Veterans of Valor service organization, was shot while clearing out houses in Fallujah. Pequeno, whose story was told in the May 2009 issue of The American Legion Magazine, suffered severe traumatic brain injury from an IED explosion.

Patrick Brady, a retired Army major general, is a Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in Vietnam; his daughter, Meghan, has served in Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq. Schatzel helped to rebuild the Iraqi scouting program in Baghdad, and Brown - twice-injured in battle - now spends his days helping veterans recover from war and readjust to the world of peace.

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Office Depot and Lexmark Team up with Operation Homefront to Provide Military Families with Free Printers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In recognition of Memorial Day, Office Depot® (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, and Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE:LXK), a leading global provider of imaging products, solutions and services, today announced a new program in conjunction with Operation Homefront that will provide military families with much-needed technology to help them stay in touch with their loved ones serving in the armed forces.

“We applaud Operation Homefront for their dedication to military families all over the world, and we hope that our customers will embrace the opportunity to help these families as well.”

The special program runs from May 30 through June 5. During that time Office Depot and Lexmark will donate a new Lexmark printer* to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of military families nationwide, each time a customer purchases a Lexmark printer in an Office Depot store (regularly priced at $199.99 and above) or online at www.officedepot.com/lexmark/operationhomefront. Office Depot and Lexmark hope to donate more than 4,000 printers.

“Office Depot is honored to support Operation Homefront through our partnership with Lexmark, and give back to thousands of military families by providing printers through this special program,” said Steve Mahurin, Executive Vice President of Merchandising for Office Depot. “We applaud Operation Homefront for their dedication to military families all over the world, and we hope that our customers will embrace the opportunity to help these families as well.”

“Operation Homefront provides necessary assistance to the families of U.S. military troops who are serving our country,” said Paul Rooke, executive vice president and president of Lexmark’s Imaging Solutions Division. “Lexmark is pleased to support dedicated partners like Office Depot that value corporate citizenship as much as we do. In addition to saving time and money with their purchase of a Lexmark all-in-one printer, customers will walk away feeling good about supporting this worthy cause.”

Program Featured on Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ champion Tony Stewart is helping the cause as well with his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet featuring a special rear TV panel with the Office Depot, Lexmark and Operation Homefront logos, as well as the message, “Buy A Printer, Support Military Families.” The message will appear on the race car during the nationally televised Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend (Sunday, May 30, 6 p.m. EDT, FOX).

“I am very grateful to the men and women who serve our country, and that includes all of the military families who sacrifice time with their loved ones,” Stewart said. “They make it possible for people like me to do what I love and for fans to enjoy being at the race track every weekend. For any NASCAR fan who needs a new printer, now is the time to visit your local Office Depot store. Your purchase of a Lexmark printer will directly benefit a military family, and that is a great gift.”

Tweet Your Support: #OperationShoutOut

As part of the Office Depot and Lexmark program, people can also engage with Operation Homefront and support members of the military via Twitter. Beginning now through June 5, people can give a “Shout Out” to someone serving in the military and be entered for a chance to win one of 10 Lexmark printers. To participate, go to Twitter (www.Twitter.com) and tweet the name and rank of a loved one in the military, along with the hashtag: #OperationShoutOut, from your Twitter account.

For more information, please visit www.officedepot.com/lexmark/operationhomefront or your local Office Depot retail store location.

You can find Office Depot on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OfficeDepot and follow Office Depot on Twitter at http://twitter.com/officedepot.

To learn more about the products and services available at Office Depot, please visit your local Office Depot retail store location or www.officedepot.com.

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Military Pathways(R) Commemorates Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Month with iSalute Campaign

/PRNewswire/ -- Military Pathways is commemorating Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Month in May by launching a web-based greeting called "iSalute." The site, www.iSalute.org, allows friends and family to send an online greeting to active duty soldiers, veterans and military families in honor of their service and sacrifice, while providing access to a variety of online health services including anonymous mental health self-assessments.

To send an iSalute, users can visit www.iSalute.org, where they can choose a custom greeting and write their own personal message. "Military Pathways is excited to be able to offer an easy, free way for service members and their families to connect, show thanks to one another and assess their mental health all at the same time," said Connie DiCocco, Executive Director of Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the non-profit that runs the Military Pathways program.

Military Pathways offers service personnel and their families the opportunity to take anonymous, mental health and alcohol use self-assessments online, by phone, and through special events held at installations worldwide. The self-assessments are a brief series of questions that help those in need of assistance find it, without the stigma that is often attached to seeking care.

"As May is both Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Month, this is the perfect opportunity to honor our service members and their families. And although we are launching this in May, it will be available year-round as it is important that we thank those in the military for their service and sacrifice throughout the year," said DiCocco.

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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.

Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week

/PRNewswire/ -- The week of April 11-17, 2010, marks the founding of Paralyzed Veterans of America 64 years ago. All Americans are being encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules to honor and help empower America's paralyzed veterans.

With events and activities across the country and the theme Empowering Lives, Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week highlights the unique challenges facing veterans with spinal cord injury/dysfunction. It spotlights the work of Paralyzed Veterans to empower seriously wounded heroes and their families with everything they need to thrive.

This special week will also see the launch of Mission: ABLE, a new campaign that will enlist all Americans -- companies, citizens and communities -- to help our paralyzed heroes fully live the lives they deserve and to receive what they need most: care, benefits and jobs. Please visit www.mission-able.com for more details.

"Please take a minute during Awareness Week to think about the enormous challenges paralyzed veterans and their families face every day and then do something good to help empower their lives," said Gene A. Crayton, national president of Paralyzed Veterans. "From a community saying thanks to a paralyzed veteran who has just returned home from Iraq to an employer deciding to hire more veterans with disabilities, you can do something special to celebrate the 64th birthday of Paralyzed Veterans of America."

Paralyzed Veterans and its 34 chapters:

-- Fight for quality VA health care and ample military benefits.
-- Promote and provide wheelchair sports and recreational activities.
-- Lead the charge to make America more accessible.
-- Empower paralyzed veterans with the tools they need to secure good
careers, at a time when the unemployment rate for veterans with severe
disabilities is 85 percent.
-- Invest in research to find new treatments and a cure for paralysis.
-- Provide our services to all veterans and their families free of
charge. We simply couldn't do it without your generous support.


Sixty-four years ago, Paralyzed Veterans of America was founded by a band of spinal cord injured service members who returned home from World War II to a grateful nation, but also to a world with few solutions to the challenges they faced. These veterans from the "Greatest Generation" made a decision not just to live, but to live with dignity as contributors to society. They created Paralyzed Veterans, dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights for people with disabilities. And for more than six decades, Paralyzed Veterans and its 34 chapters have been working to create an America where all veterans, and people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they need to thrive. (www.pva.org)

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Miramar National Cemetery Dedicated

/PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) held a dedication ceremony today in San Diego for the Miramar National Cemetery.

"Offering more burial options for Veterans in southern California is a top priority," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "With this cemetery, we are keeping our commitment to provide a final resting place and lasting tribute to the men and women who sacrificed to protect our Nation."

VA's Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Steve L. Muro, gave the keynote address and was joined by elected officials as the dedication plaque was unveiled. Military honors included a firing salute and the ceremony ended with the playing of "Taps."

The 313-acre Miramar National Cemetery will include both gravesite and columbarium development, providing a full range of burial alternatives to approximately 235,000 Veterans in the San Diego County area.

The nearby Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery closed to first interment casketed burials in 1966, although it stays active with casketed interments of family members of those already interred and inurnments of cremated remains. Riverside National Cemetery, 90 miles from Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, is currently the nearest national cemetery offering full burial options.

The design contract for $961,004 was awarded to Van Dyke Landscape Architects, a small business firm in San Diego.

The first phase of construction will include approximately 11,500 conventional gravesites; 4,500 in-ground cremation sites; 10,000 columbarium niches; an administration building and maintenance complex; two committal service shelters; and a public assembly area. The project will also include systems for water distribution, roads, utilities, signs and landscaping.

VA chose Kirk Leopard as director of the cemetery. He will continue as the director of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, a position he has held since 2007. Prior to that appointment, he was director of Baltimore National Cemetery and assistant to the director at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Alabama. In June 2006, he completed 12 months of training as a cemetery director intern at VA's National Cemetery Administration training center in St. Louis. Leopard is a 21-year Navy Veteran, having served as a hospital corpsman, medical laboratory technician and medical research technician during his military career.

Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Burials in VA-run national cemeteries are also open to military personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents.

Other burial benefits for eligible Veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker - even if the burial is not in a national cemetery.

In the midst of the largest cemetery expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict -- from the Revolutionary War to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried in VA's national cemeteries.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. Additional information about the Miramar National Cemetery is available by calling the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at 619-553-2084. To make burial arrangements at the time of need at any VA national cemetery, call the national cemetery scheduling office at 800-535-1117.

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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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ThanksUSA Awards 200 College Scholarships for Military Spouses and Children in 2009

/PRNewswire/ -- ThanksUSA, a charitable effort to mobilize Americans of all ages to "thank" our active-duty troops by providing need-based college scholarships to their spouses and dependents, announced that it awarded a total of 200 scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, to military families in 2009. Rounding out its fourth year of tuition assistance, ThanksUSA sent out the final 100 scholarship letters on Monday, December 21, with the previous 100 awarded in the fall.

"Despite economic hardships in 2009, Americans continued to show their appreciation for our men and women in uniform by contributing to ThanksUSA's scholarship program. We hope these additional 100 scholarships help brighten the holidays for military families, especially those with loved ones serving overseas," said Michele Stork, executive director of ThanksUSA. "ThanksUSA had an amazing year in 2009, and we look forward to doing even more in 2010 for the families of the men and women who provide such an invaluable service to our country."

ThanksUSA began in 2005 as the idea of two Virginia schoolgirls as a way to mobilize Americans to thank active-duty troops for defending our freedoms. Since 2006, ThanksUSA has awarded nearly $6 million in need-based, post-secondary scholarships to nearly 2,000 spouses and children of military members serving on active-duty status. Scholarships have been awarded in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to families representing all branches of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves and the families of those killed and wounded.

This past Thanksgiving, ThanksUSA unveiled Treasure Hunt Five, which was sponsored by the ESA Foundation, as part of a three-year partnership that aims to increase the number of scholarships available to military families. Treasure Hunt Five features more than 150 questions on a variety of states, along with the history of the U.S. Army and a new chapter on the Earth's resources in honor of Earth Day's 40th anniversary in 2010. Once the game ends on August 15, 2010, ThanksUSA will award prizes, including laptops and gift certificates, to the winner of each game "chapter." Contestants may access the game at www.ThanksUSA.org.

To help fund these scholarships, ThanksUSA hosted its first annual ThanksUSA Benefit Concert in Nashville, TN, in 2009 honoring military families with performances by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Lauderdale, the SteelDrivers, Leslie Satcher, and Monty Holmes. The event was attended by recuperating troops from Walter Reed and military personnel from both Fort Campbell and the Tennessee Air National Guard.

"We're honored to have been a part of the benefit concert and to have contributed to ThanksUSA's mission in 2009," said Chris Eberbach, CEO of USA Payment Services, the presenting sponsor for the Nashville benefit concert. "America's men and women in uniform deserve our thanks for their unwavering bravery; congratulations to ThanksUSA for another successful year."

These need-based scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to the spouses and children of active-duty military personnel who plan to pursue a post-secondary education, including vocational and technical training. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, demonstrated leadership, and participation in school and community activities.

About ThanksUSA

Founded in the fall of 2005, ThanksUSA, a non-partisan 501(c) (3) organization, is an effort to thank the men and women of our armed forces and their families for their service to the country with the gift of education. The organization provides need-based, post-secondary education opportunities to the children and spouses of active-duty status military personnel through competitive scholarships. For more information visit www.ThanksUSA.org.

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Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony at Pentagon Memorial

/PRNewswire/ -- Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization that donates 5000+ Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery each year. This year, Ms. Kathryn Cross, a Gold Star Mother who is leading the Wreaths Across America effort, personally secured enough donated wreaths for all three of the 9/11 memorials including the Pentagon Memorial. The donation was made possible by the Worcester Wreath Company and Wal-Mart Corporation who are donating the wreaths as a gesture to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The wreaths will be delivered as part of a convoy traveling to each of the three 9/11 memorials.

Wreaths Across America plans to deliver the wreaths to the Pentagon Memorial Thursday afternoon, December 10 . On Friday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m., Wreaths Across America and the Pentagon Memorial Fund will conduct a short wreath laying ceremony. Representatives of the Pentagon, Pentagon Memorial Fund and family members of the victims will be in attendance. Similar ceremonies will be taking place in New York City and Shanksville, PA on December 12th.

WHO: James J. Laychak, President of the Pentagon Memorial Fund
Morrill Worchester, Founder of Wreaths Across America

WHAT: Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony

WHEN: Friday December 11, 2009
3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Pentagon Memorial
South Parking Lot of the Pentagon

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Walmart Gives $1.1 Million to Support Military Families and Honor Fallen Heroes This Holiday Season

/PRNewswire/ -- Walmart gives an early Christmas to more than 10,000 military children and families who will receive free toys, books, Walmart gift cards and gift packages. Through a $1.1 million donation from Walmart, the initiative will benefit families in all branches of the military. The company will also lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries across the United States to honor fallen veterans.

Representatives from Operation Homefront and Wreaths Across America joined Walmart in Fort Bragg, N.C. today to launch the program, part of "Walmart Gives Back," a holiday giving initiative focused on hunger relief and support for military families.

"Walmart has a history of supporting our troops. This holiday season, we recognize the sacrifices of our deployed servicemen and women - and their families back at home," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "We know that many military families have a tough time during the holidays. They miss their loved ones who are away, and we hope that our efforts will make their holiday easier and better."

More than 300 associates from Walmart and Sam's Club locations nationwide will help organize toys and assist participants at each event.

Supporting Military Families

Spouses of deployed military personnel will shop for free today at Operation Homefront toy shops near Fort Hood and Fort Bliss in Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; and Camp Pendleton, Calif. - markets that top the Pentagon's list of cities with the highest troop deployment. With toys and books donated from Walmart, the shops will serve more than 3,000 military moms and dads with 10,000 military children, combined.

"This has been an especially difficult year for our military families and their children. They're not only dealing with deployments but also the economic recession," said Operation Homefront chief executive officer, Jim Knotts. "Through the generosity of Walmart, these donated toys and books will allow the military families to provide a happy holiday for their children while using their limited resources on the vital basic needs."

In addition, Walmart gift cards will be given to more than 1,500 military families in 30 cities and 1,000 gift packages will be given to the caregivers of wounded military - all made possible through Walmart's donation to Operation Homefront.

Honoring our Nation's Veterans

Walmart's military support this holiday season will also help Wreaths Across America purchase, transport and lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries and memorial sites across the United States, including "a mile of memories'' wreath display at Battery Park to honor 9/11 victims and veterans from the New York area, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark. and the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Penn.

"Our mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach our children the value of freedom," said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. "This is the second year that Walmart has generously donated wreaths, trucks, and resources - and we are proud to work with Walmart to show our gratitude to those who served and sacrificed."

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MyChristmasCatalog.com to Donate Calling Cards to Active Duty Troops

(BUSINESS WIRE)--While most of us look forward to spending the holidays at home with our families, our active duty U.S. troops stationed far from home don’t have that joy. So MyChristmasCatalog.com is trying to make it a little easier for them. The nation’s largest online Christmas gift-giving store powered by the newest Microsoft Silverlight 3 technology devoted a large interactive section of the site to honor our soldiers at Christmas, and is taking ten percent of its Christmas sale proceeds to purchase one of the most requested gifts by our soldiers – pre-paid calling cards – so they can phone home and stay connected with their families.

"Having calling cards allows us to stay in contact with our family and friends back home. This helps us to have peace of mind that they are okay," said Capt. Emma Phillips, U.S. Army Reserves Company Commander for the 724th Military Battalion in Fort Lauderdale. Her office will receive and help administer distribution of the pre-paid calling card donations.

“Our military men and women are willing to sacrifice everything all year round to keep our nation safe and strong,” said Jerrold Burden, creator of MyChristmasCatalog.com and Chairman of Fort Lauderdale-based Catalog Enterprises, Inc. “We wanted to do what we could to show them thanks.”

Burden, an Army veteran, designed part of the site to allow the public and online shoppers to view heartfelt Christmas videos, poems and photo albums of our troops overseas, send soldiers free e-cards directly from the site, get the latest news from Iraq and make donations to purchase more calling cards for troops. Visitors can also find links to organizations that assist veterans, honor the Fallen, and help children of fallen soldiers.

“We want to make America aware by embracing our troops this holiday season and sharing the memories, tears, heartache and heroism,” said Burden.

Catalog Enterprises was selected by Microsoft early this year as the fourth company in the nation to become a Microsoft Partner utilizing the new Silverlight 3 software to develop award-winning websites. The newly launched MyChristmasCatalog.com is among the first sites to show off this revolutionary technology in ways to delight visitors.

To first access MyChristmasCatalog.com, with it’s brand new Microsoft technology, visitors are offered a quick and free download that opens the door to an easy, user-friendly format they’ve probably never experienced. The site helps visitors choose the most popular and unique gifts at the lowest prices for every age and gender. It has more than 18,000 products to choose from, including those from dozens of affiliate retailers like Macy’s, Target, Radio Shack, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. Once a gift is found, customers can click again to find the current lowest price among the affiliate retailers for that item before making their purchase online.

“We worked hard to make a magical, mystical wonderland of holiday shopping all in one place by creating a truly unique and entertaining site for the whole family,” said Burden. Not only can you shop on the site, but also visitors can enjoy hours of free fun. You can play online Christmas games and Christmas music, have animated Christmas stories read to you and your children, watch classic cartoons, enjoy an online holiday recipe book, send letters to Santa and check his flight track on Norad, view photos of Manhattan’s most famous retail Christmas windows, check out Sears and Spiegel holiday catalog flipbooks from the 30s and 40s, and much more.

For more information on Catalog Enterprises, Inc. and MyChristmasCatalog.com, visit our websites at www.MyChristmasCatalog.com and www.CatalogEnterprises.co.

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Showing Troops America Cares - Soldiers' Angels Send Holiday Care Packages

/PRNewswire/ -- American military personnel stationed in the war zones will soon receive Holiday care packages from nonprofit Soldiers' Angels. This holiday season, Soldiers' Angels aims to ship 140,000 Wrapped in Holiday Spirit gifts to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and is calling on all Americans to join the final push to that goal.

Each Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care package includes a handmade "Blanket of Belief," snacks, socks, holiday cards and other treats with a personal note of thanks and support. Troops in the most remote regions of Afghanistan will also receive beautiful stainless steel coffee mugs. The "Blankets of Belief" forming the heart of the care package tell America's service men and women, "We believe in you." When they receive a Blanket of Belief, service members know that somebody back home remembers them, that somebody labored over a handmade item with love and belief in them.

Founder Patti Patton-Bader describes how important it is for the troops to know America believes in them and supports them, especially during this time. "Holidays away from home are very tough on our deployed troops," she says. "Please help us show them America cares--be there for a hero this holiday season."

Soldiers' Angels is soliciting donations, as well as offering a 15% discount at www.AngelsStore.org on Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages that allow patriotic Americans to order a package for a specific soldier or have their gifts sent to "Any Soldier" with a personal note of gratitude and support.

Donations for the Wrapped in Holiday Spirit project can be made online at http://soldiersangels.org/holidays-for-heroes.html, or sent to Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104.

Care packages at www.AngelsStore.org are offered as a convenience for those who support America's troops, giving them an easy way to send a personal message with a gift especially designed to meet the needs and interests of deployed service members. The cost includes shipping, and any payment above the base cost of the contents helps to fund the many military support projects of volunteer-led non-profit Soldiers' Angels.

SOLDIERS' ANGELS is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) non-profit providing aid and comfort to U.S. military personnel and families. Over 200,000 volunteers also provide assistance to the wounded, support for veterans, comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. www.SoldiersAngels.org, TAX ID #20-0583415.

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FamilyLife Supports Military Marriages in Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- In response to rising suicide and divorce rates within the U.S. military, FamilyLife, a non-profit ministry dedicated to supporting marriages and families, will present its Weekend to Remember® marriage conference at a significant discount to military couples in Atlanta from Dec. 11 - 13 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead (3300 Peachtree Road NE). Weekend to Remember is a marriage getaway aimed at strengthening healthy marriages and healing troubled ones in a fun, supportive and non-threatening environment.

While every couple is encouraged to attend, FamilyLife has invited local members of our armed forces and their spouses to attend the conference at a reduced rate in recognition of the sacrifices they make and the subsequent toll their jobs take on their marriages.

"We want to do whatever we can to support military marriages," said FamilyLife President, CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Dennis Rainey. "We recognize and revere the tremendous responsibility and stress placed on our servicemen and women, and that such a career can truly take a toll on one's marriage and family."

FamilyLife's military marriage initiative comes on the heels of reports of rising suicide rates within the United States military. One of the ways the military has chosen to combat this tragic trend is by encouraging soldiers and their spouses to participate in marriage enrichment programs offered by chaplains at military posts around the country. To provide resources to military marriages worldwide, FamilyLife has set up a dedicated website that offers resources specific to military marriages, as well as a downloadable sample of the HomeBuilders: Making Your Marriage Deployment Ready small group study, at www.FamilyLife.com/MilitaryMarriage.

"Making a marriage work is never easy, and it is difficult for any husband or wife to not 'bring the office home,'" said Major General (Retired) Robert Dees, executive director of Campus Crusade's Military Ministry, a FamilyLife partner ministry. "When 'the office' is a battlefield, and a couple isn't equipped with the necessary tools to deal with those experiences, such as separation and the fear of losing one's life or one's spouse, the results can be disastrous. In that spirit, FamilyLife and Military Ministry are committed to strengthening the bonds between the heroes who serve and the spouses they love."

Military couples can attend for a special military rate of $69 per person (a $120 savings per couple). To register, military couples may call 1-800-FL-TODAY or visit www.FamilyLife.com/MilitaryMarriage. Select "Donate" to give to the FamilyLife and Military Ministry partnership and thereby enable even more military couples to attend the Weekend to Remember conference on a scholarship basis.

For more than three decades FamilyLife®, a global, donor-supported, non-profit organization co-founded by Dr. Dennis and Barbara Rainey, has focused on the mission of using practical, biblical principles to build healthier marriages and families through conferences and media channels. FamilyLife, a 501c3, works in 100 countries around the world to help to transform lives and restore hope through its Weekend to Remember® marriage conferences, Homebuilders small group studies, FamilyLife Today(TM) radio broadcasts, Hope for Orphans® orphan care ministry, FamilyLife publications, and the internet. For more information, visit FamilyLife.com.

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Sweet Treats for Troops

Boxes filled with 65 pounds of M &M chocolate candies are on the way to troops of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Frank D. Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, GA.

Bus drivers of the Fayette County Public School System in Georgia donated the chocolate in the hopes of making the holidays a little brighter and sweeter for military personnel who will not be able to make it home for family gatherings and celebrations. This marks the seventh year the bus drivers have sent chocolate to troops stationed both in the United States and overseas.

“We are grateful for what these brave men and women are doing to protect our freedom and this is just a small token of our appreciation for their sacrifices,” says bus driver Linda Mosley who organizes the drive each year.

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How You Can Support Our Troops

(StatePoint) With hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops continuing to be stationed everywhere from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany and Japan, American citizens at home are continuing to mobilize to show their support of our men and women overseas.

Individuals and businesses are doing everything from organizing donation drives and sending care packages to actually getting involved in developing medicines for soldiers on the front lines or working to find homes for disabled troops when they return.

Some of the more popular things you can do to help include donating computers, frequent flier miles, DVDs and phone cards, or sending care packages and letters to the front lines.

To help people learn how to get involved with donation drives and troop outreach programs, the U.S. Department of Defense has set up a Web site, listing such initiatives by type. Visit www.ourmilitary.mil/help.shtml to peruse the ways you can help.

Many are choosing to not only get involved themselves, but to organize their co-workers to help out. This can increase the effectiveness of a donation drive, as many employers are choosing to match donations or simply to donate resources like computer and phone time or stamps to help expand a donation drive.

Some small businesses are taking the patriotic call a step further by creating much-needed products for the troops. One such company, PolyMedix, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops drugs for infectious diseases and cardiovascular disorders, has turned its attention on helping the armed services by creating drugs and other treatments that soldiers can use against anthrax and other biowarfare pathogens.

And the company's work is being recognized by the U.S. Government, which has awarded it several grants and research contracts through the Defense Threat Reduction agency, the Office of Naval Research, and U.S. Army Research Office to help PolyMedix develop new drugs for the troops.

"We sincerely appreciate the support of the U. S. Army Research Office and its recognition of the significance of our work," said Nicholas Landekic, President and CEO of PolyMedix. "We are making good progress towards developing new types of antibiotic drugs which may be useful against infections caused by biowarfare pathogens and other serious infectious agents. We have received eleven grants and research contracts from different organizations, including DTRA, the Navy, and the Army, which all are going to support work that we would otherwise not be able to pursue."

So, when looking for ways to help out, consider things you can do at home and at your job with the participation of your employer.

Of course, most citizens don't have the resources to develop medicines or ship lots of goods overseas. But there are many ways individuals and families can help out.

If you are getting involved in any initiative to help the troops, consider asking friends and family for assistance and for participation from your employer, your child's school and even local community and religious organizations.


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Thank You Cards from Across America Sent to Troops for Thanksgiving Holiday

(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Army Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan over the Thanksgiving Holiday will be reading thousands of thank you cards written by Americans from across the nation. Volunteer Ambassadors with the Army’s Freedom Team Salute program campaigned on ”Make A Difference Day” on October 24 to encourage individuals in their communities to write thank you cards that would be sent to troops deployed in harm’s way.

“We shipped over five thousand cards to the troops overseas,” said Colonel David Griffith, Director of Freedom Team Salute. “Our goal was to send all of the cards to Soldiers for Thanksgiving but our office is still receiving thank you cards. It just demonstrates how people want to do whatever they can for our men and women in uniform who are away from home and making sacrifices for this nation.”

The Freedom Team Salute Ambassadors participating in “Make A Difference Day” set-up outside grocery stores, shopping centers, VFW and American Legion Posts, and Community Centers with one mission in mind – get members of their local communities to take a few minutes to sign or write Thanksgiving thank you cards for Soldiers deployed. Many people were so excited to be able to thank Soldiers that they brought bundles of cards signed by friends and family members.

School teachers participated and used the opportunity to have their students get involved by creating hundreds of handmade thank you cards that were signed by children of all ages. Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, notified all of their store locations to welcome any Freedom Team Salute Volunteer Ambassador requesting permission to reach out to their customers.

The expressions in the thank you cards were heartfelt and filled with patriotism. One individual wrote “Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving. I hope and pray that you have a quiet and uneventful day. We will be thinking of you and your buddies and the peace we are enjoying here at home because of you. We do appreciate all you are doing for us! God Bless You!” Another person simply said -- “Thank you for putting yourself second and your country first.”

“It will be awesome to get a box of cards to distribute to our Soldiers,” said Command Sergeant Major Brian Lambert with the 16th Military Police Brigade at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, when notified that a box of cards was being mailed to his unit. “Our younger Soldiers are just beginning to understand the power of a card or letter in the mail. I know they will enjoy receiving them.”

Each card was accompanied with a U.S. Army decal with Freedom Team Salute information printed on the back encouraging the Soldiers to go to www.freedomteamsalute.com to thank individuals who have supported them and made a difference in their lives.

U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute was established in 2005 by the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff to give the public the opportunity to thank all U.S. Army Veterans for their service by recognizing them with Commendations. The program also gives all Active Duty, Army Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers the opportunity to recognize their Parents, Spouses, Supporters, and Employers. Over 2.2 million individuals have been honored with Freedom Team Salute Commendations.

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General David Petraeus and the Men and Women of Central Command Receive 2009 AMERICAN PATRIOT AWARD before Nearly 630 People

/PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, nearly 630 people gathered to honor the National Defense University Foundation's 2009 American Patriot Award recipients: General David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Men and Women of CENTCOM. The event, one of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious galas, was held on Friday, November 13, 2009, in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Program participants for the 2009 American Patriot Award Gala included honoree General David Petraeus, USA, General Ann Dunwoody, USA, and General John Rogers Galvin, USA (Ret). Grammy nominated jazz saxophonist Ski Johnson performed live. Leon Harris, Anchor of ABC 7/WJLA-TV, emceed the event.

Five military heroes accepted the American Patriot Award on behalf of their services, along with General David Petraeus, USA. The five heroes included: CSM Rocky Shapla, USA; CDR Stephen Hall, USN; GYSGT Josue Magana, USMC; Tech. Sgt. Timothy R. Evans, USAF; LCDR Holly Harrison, USCG.

Notable guests included White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; LTG Dennis Via, USA, Director, C4 Systems (J6) Joint Chiefs of Staff; and, National Defense University President VADM Ann E. Rondeau, USN; Members of Congress, the Administration, and Diplomatic Community; and past and present Armed Forces Service Heroes. The Gala was attended by more than 600 guests.

More than 40 "patriots" from all five branches of the military service attended this year's celebration, through the "Sponsor a Patriot" program. Many of these young patriots recently returned from Iraq, Afghanistan or other overseas deployments. Some are recovering from injury sustained while deployed; others are actively serving their country on military installations and in communities across America

Beyond honoring the recipients, the Gala supports National Defense University (NDU) and its crucial mission of educating national security leaders. Students of NDU are the next generation of ambassadors, national and international military commanders and civilian defense industry leaders -- patriots who have committed their lives to furthering the security of our nation and the world.

"Paying tribute to General Petraeus and the service men and women who put their lives at risk every day to safeguard our national security is the focus of this year's National Defense University Foundation's American Patriot Award," said Walter Stadtler, Ambassador (Ret), President and CEO, National Defense University Foundation. "These unsung heroes are the ultimate patriots and are most deserving of this award."

Previous recipients of the American Patriot Award include: The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger; General Colin Powell; The Honorable Caspar Weinberger; former President George H.W. Bush; The Men and Women of our Nation's Defense Team; The Honorable Bob Dole; The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye; The Honorable Ted Stevens; The Honorable John Glenn; The Honorable John Warner; and The Honorable Ike Skelton.

IBM is the Patriot Sponsor for this year's Gala. Eagle Sponsors include: C4 Enterprises, LLC; Lockheed Martin Corporation; and, Raytheon Company. Liberty Sponsors include: Agility Defense & Government Services; The Boeing Company; Caterpillar Inc.; EADS North America, Inc.; G4S Wackenhut and WSI; L-3 Communications Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; William D. Smythe Family Foundation; and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

The National Defense University Foundation, Inc. was established in 1982 to support and enhance the mission and goals of the National Defense University through promoting excellence and innovation in education by nurturing high standards of scholarship, leadership and professionalism.

The National Defense University is the country's preeminent institution for military, diplomatic and civilian national security education, research and outreach. It is the only university providing a common educational experience for all the various professional communities engaged in national security. The main campus is located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.ndufoundation.org.

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