Thank you for what you do each and every day: for your military service, and for your service and support to military, veterans, families, and survivors. There is a lot happening this Veterans Day. Here are some highlights of events happening among our CIAV organizations:
Cause:
Cause will have their Gala Benefit: Renewing Hope, Lifting Spirits tonight in Washington, DC.
Disabled American Veterans
DAV has launched a “Thanks a Million” Campaign this Veterans Day, to send a million messages of thanks to the brave men and women who have served this great nation and to raise $5 million to ensure our veterans receive the health care and other benefits they earned and deserve. With a simple text message, anyone can make a $5 donation to DAV by texting the word THANKS to 90999*. This program allows individuals to say THANKS to our nation’s heroes for their service and sacrifice any where, any time.
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund:
San Diego area Navy Chaplains, Religious Program Specialists and their friends are dedicating a bike ride to honor our wounded warriors, both Sailors and Marines with whom they have served, the Semper Fi Padre Pedal Power. The ride will raise support and awareness for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Riders will travel from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA):
IAVA is gearing up for an action packed Veterans Week with over 200 events nationwide, including the parade in New York City, IAVA’s 2nd Annual Heroes Gala, and the introduction of a massive, historic Public Service Advertising (PSA) campaign in conjunction with the Ad Council. Veterans from across the country will have the opportunity to participate in local events, and New York City veterans will join IAVA for the parade on Veterans Day and star-studded Heroes Gala the following night.
Brave New Foundation:
Today IN THEIR BOOTS will show “Veterans Day Special: Better Serving our Vets at Home”. This special will feature three stories and encourage discussion about what communities and individuals can do to better serve our veterans. The first story focuses on Sgt. Jonathan Lujan and the 2008 Winter Sports Clinic. Lujan is a retired Marine who suffered a severe spinal injury while serving in Iraq. Our second story is about the power of a women’s veterans retreat, which was organized by four nonprofits, Swords to Plowshares, Air Compassion, Vets 4 Vets and One Freedom. The retreat was the brainchild of Navy veteran Tia Christopher, the Women Veteran Coordinator with Swords to Plowshares. The third story is about Lieutenant Mark Little. Little lost both his legs in Iraq, but hasn’t missed a step. He’s training to learn to rollerblade, run in a race, and ride a bicycle.You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXJ4TnhxX-g. After the “real story”, our host, Jan Bender, will speak with Lujan, Christopher and Little. Tyrone Ballesteros from the National Veterans Foundation will join the discussion as well.
ONE Freedom:
ONE Freedom announces a new website designed to provide education and healing to America’s service members, veterans, families and care providers.
Swords to Plowshares:
Tia Christopher, Women Veteran’s Coordinator for Swords to Plowshares discusses the unique issues female services members and veterans face on KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny.
USA Cares:
USA Cares is hosting a Golf Scramble today in the Las Vegas Area at Harrah’s Cascata Golf Course . Here is a link to registration forms - http://www.usacares.org/files/GOLFTOURNAMENT.pdf and a link to see course information - http://www.harrahs.com/golf/cascata-golf/.
