/PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Foundation is inviting all Americans to honor Veterans Day 2009 by supporting the campaign to complete the Flight 93 National Memorial. The memorial will honor the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93, who overtook the 9/11 terrorists aboard their flight and presumably thwarted efforts to launch a further attack on Washington, D.C.
A groundbreaking ceremony at the crash site marked the beginning of the construction process, as the campaign to support the memorial continues. To date, roughly one-third of the money needed has been raised to complete the Flight 93 Memorial. To make a contribution to the Flight 93 Campaign, visit: www.honorflight93.org. A video of highlights from the emotional groundbreaking ceremony was also released today on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CXjMgtDlYw.
"All of America should be helping on this effort because they were heroes for all of America," said Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Our nation's capital belongs to everybody in America, and if this plane, Flight 93 had hit its intended target who knows what the consequence would have been to the entire planet."
"Veterans Day is a time when we celebrate and honor the selfless men and women who have served the nation in times of need. The story of Flight 93 clearly resonates with the thousands of veterans who have visited the temporary memorial," said General Tommy Franks, honorary co-chair of the Flight 93 Campaign. "American Veterans are known for their commitment to getting hard jobs done. We are going to follow their example and complete the fundraising for the Flight 93 Memorial in time for the tenth anniversary of 9/11."
Many veterans who have visited the Flight 93 Crash Site have left tributes including a pair of combat boots, a Purple Heart, dog tags, and a brick from an Iraqi compound.
In a weekend editorial in the Washington Post about the groundbreaking, Gov. Tom Ridge, who is an honorary chairman of the Flight 93 Campaign, and Gov. Rendell wrote that, "The story of Flight 93 is a parable for our times that calls on each of us to be our best selves -- and to value and respect that spark in one another."
The National Park Foundation is running the campaign to complete the Flight 93 Memorial. To support the effort, please visit www.honorflight93.org.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veterans Day Call to Action
/PRNewswire/ -- This Veterans Day, Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) is urging everyone to honor all veterans in every community across the nation.
"We encourage all Americans to take time out of their busy schedules to do something good for all generations of veterans and their families," said Paralyzed Veterans national president Gene A. Crayton. "And beyond Veterans Day, please take a minute to think about other opportunities to make every day a day for veterans. Thank you America for always caring about us."
Here are some suggested activities for this Veterans Day and beyond:
-- Everyone: Thank veterans for their service. It means more than you
might think. And please volunteer for veterans year round.
-- Leaders: From the President and Congress to our mayors, always use
your leadership to help empower veterans and their families.
-- Architects: Include wheelchair accessibility in your designs. This
improves everyone's quality of life.
-- Employers: Hire more paralyzed veterans. By doing do, veterans get
good jobs and careers in a tough economy, and employers get great
employees.
Sixty-three 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 an organization dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights for people with disabilities. And for more than six decades, Paralyzed Veterans of America 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)
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
"We encourage all Americans to take time out of their busy schedules to do something good for all generations of veterans and their families," said Paralyzed Veterans national president Gene A. Crayton. "And beyond Veterans Day, please take a minute to think about other opportunities to make every day a day for veterans. Thank you America for always caring about us."
Here are some suggested activities for this Veterans Day and beyond:
-- Everyone: Thank veterans for their service. It means more than you
might think. And please volunteer for veterans year round.
-- Leaders: From the President and Congress to our mayors, always use
your leadership to help empower veterans and their families.
-- Architects: Include wheelchair accessibility in your designs. This
improves everyone's quality of life.
-- Employers: Hire more paralyzed veterans. By doing do, veterans get
good jobs and careers in a tough economy, and employers get great
employees.
Sixty-three 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 an organization dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights for people with disabilities. And for more than six decades, Paralyzed Veterans of America 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)
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Restored Vietnam Memorial Unveiled on Veterans Day
/PRNewswire/ -- The newly restored Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial (PVVM) at Penns Landing will be unveiled on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at noon at Front and Spruce streets.
The unveiling concludes two years of fund-raising for the $500,000 project necessitated by 21 years of wear and damage from the weather, general use and vandalism. "In many ways, this effort by the PVVM Fund Board of Directors has resulted in virtually a brand new Memorial that will ensure the preservation of this important monument to the sacrifice of 646 Philadelphians," noted PVVMF president Terry A. Williamson.
The ceremony will feature an unveiling of the wall of names by the Vietnam history class of LaSalle College High School and raising of the Armed Services flags by an active duty member of each branch of service. The keynote speaker is PA Justice Seamus P. McCaffrey and remarks will be delivered by Mayor Michael Nutter.
The reconstruction represents the first phase of the "Duty to Remember" Campaign for the preservation of the Memorial. Improvements include the replacement of paving material, restoration of damaged granite, new lighting, a refurbished "wall of names," the installation of flagpoles to honor POW/MIAS and for each of the Armed Services, and other improvements.
One of the exciting improvements is a web-based 24/7 camera system, which just became operational last week, to permit individuals to visit our web site at www.pvvm.org to view a live video feed of the Memorial.
"Unfortunately, the restoration will not halt the vandalism and desecration that has marked the site since its dedication," Williamson said. "We believe the only way to do that is to open the Spruce Street side of the secluded Memorial to expose such acts to the public. That's why we have launched the second phase of our campaign to raise $500,000 for this purpose."
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
The unveiling concludes two years of fund-raising for the $500,000 project necessitated by 21 years of wear and damage from the weather, general use and vandalism. "In many ways, this effort by the PVVM Fund Board of Directors has resulted in virtually a brand new Memorial that will ensure the preservation of this important monument to the sacrifice of 646 Philadelphians," noted PVVMF president Terry A. Williamson.
The ceremony will feature an unveiling of the wall of names by the Vietnam history class of LaSalle College High School and raising of the Armed Services flags by an active duty member of each branch of service. The keynote speaker is PA Justice Seamus P. McCaffrey and remarks will be delivered by Mayor Michael Nutter.
The reconstruction represents the first phase of the "Duty to Remember" Campaign for the preservation of the Memorial. Improvements include the replacement of paving material, restoration of damaged granite, new lighting, a refurbished "wall of names," the installation of flagpoles to honor POW/MIAS and for each of the Armed Services, and other improvements.
One of the exciting improvements is a web-based 24/7 camera system, which just became operational last week, to permit individuals to visit our web site at www.pvvm.org to view a live video feed of the Memorial.
"Unfortunately, the restoration will not halt the vandalism and desecration that has marked the site since its dedication," Williamson said. "We believe the only way to do that is to open the Spruce Street side of the secluded Memorial to expose such acts to the public. That's why we have launched the second phase of our campaign to raise $500,000 for this purpose."
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Thursday, June 4, 2009
West Georgia Honor Flight honors America’s Veterans
Reprinted from http://www.wgahonorflight.org
West Georgia Honor Flight exists to help honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. Our goal is to fly veteran heroes from Columbus, GA, and surrounding counties to Washington, D.C., to reflect at their national memorials for a one-day free visit.
On May 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial was dedicated to honor “The Greatest Generation.” Regrettably today, very few of these elderly veterans have the funds, knowledge or strength to complete a conventional trip to Washington, D.C., via commercial airline, car or bus.
It is our mission to honor as many of these selfless “ordinary people who saved the world” as we can by providing them an all expenses paid trip to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C.
Our program operates only on donations from corporate donors, local civic organizations and individuals from Columbus and the West Georgia area.
Our volunteer guardians pay their own way for the honor of personally accompanying the veterans throughout the day, including escorting them on and off the aircraft and buses as well as to the WWII Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and any other stops along the trip.
The flights, deluxe tour bus service, t-shirts, wheel chairs, oxygen and meals are FREE to our Veterans. We pledge to continue to do this as long as funds and volunteers are available.
To apply to be a part of one of our flights, please click on the appropriate link for application information and downloadable applications.
For more information about how you or your group can be a part of our effort, please contact the West Georgia Honor Flight, (706) 507-WWII (9944) or http://www.wgahonorflight.org .
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
West Georgia Honor Flight exists to help honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. Our goal is to fly veteran heroes from Columbus, GA, and surrounding counties to Washington, D.C., to reflect at their national memorials for a one-day free visit.
On May 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial was dedicated to honor “The Greatest Generation.” Regrettably today, very few of these elderly veterans have the funds, knowledge or strength to complete a conventional trip to Washington, D.C., via commercial airline, car or bus.
It is our mission to honor as many of these selfless “ordinary people who saved the world” as we can by providing them an all expenses paid trip to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C.
Our program operates only on donations from corporate donors, local civic organizations and individuals from Columbus and the West Georgia area.
Our volunteer guardians pay their own way for the honor of personally accompanying the veterans throughout the day, including escorting them on and off the aircraft and buses as well as to the WWII Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and any other stops along the trip.
The flights, deluxe tour bus service, t-shirts, wheel chairs, oxygen and meals are FREE to our Veterans. We pledge to continue to do this as long as funds and volunteers are available.
To apply to be a part of one of our flights, please click on the appropriate link for application information and downloadable applications.
For more information about how you or your group can be a part of our effort, please contact the West Georgia Honor Flight, (706) 507-WWII (9944) or http://www.wgahonorflight.org .
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Friday, May 29, 2009
Volunteering To Assist America's Veterans
(NAPSI)-For centuries, the men and women of the U.S. armed forces have volunteered to protect the United States. But did you know that thousands of veterans are now volunteering to assist other veterans to receive the benefits they have earned.
Approximately 140,000 volunteers annually give more than 13 million hours in service to veterans through the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. And among those volunteers is a group that has already given on the battlefield: the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).
The MOPH is made up entirely of veterans wounded in combat and who, for their sacrifice, received the Purple Heart medal. Last year, almost 700 volunteers from the group donated some 83,000 hours at 97 medical facilities providing assistance to other veterans. Its Ladies Auxiliary donated an additional 18,000 hours to the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) program.
Jeff Roy, the group's National Commander, intends to increase his organization's role even further. He's set a goal of boosting its volunteer hours by 15 percent and has helped develop a Youth Scholarship Program to reward young people who volunteer.
If you'd like to help a veteran in the area, here's what you should know:
The Role Of Volunteers
Volunteers play a number of roles within the VA. They can work in hospital wards, at nursing homes and pharmacies, and in veterans outreach centers. Some volunteers serve as drivers who help bring patients to and from medical appointments. Some participate in recreational activities, birthday celebrations or holiday events. And some simply visit with veterans, helping improve their overall quality of life.
Making A Difference
You can donate time, money and even a car to help veterans. In fact, over 500,000 people have made a vehicle donation to the MOPH since the inception of the program. You may also contact Del "Bulldog" Turner, MOPH National VAVS Director, by phone at (256) 891-0592 or by e-mail at dplusk@aol.com. For more information on the MOPH VAVS program or to join in our other volunteer efforts, visit www.purpleheart.org.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Approximately 140,000 volunteers annually give more than 13 million hours in service to veterans through the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. And among those volunteers is a group that has already given on the battlefield: the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).
The MOPH is made up entirely of veterans wounded in combat and who, for their sacrifice, received the Purple Heart medal. Last year, almost 700 volunteers from the group donated some 83,000 hours at 97 medical facilities providing assistance to other veterans. Its Ladies Auxiliary donated an additional 18,000 hours to the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) program.
Jeff Roy, the group's National Commander, intends to increase his organization's role even further. He's set a goal of boosting its volunteer hours by 15 percent and has helped develop a Youth Scholarship Program to reward young people who volunteer.
If you'd like to help a veteran in the area, here's what you should know:
The Role Of Volunteers
Volunteers play a number of roles within the VA. They can work in hospital wards, at nursing homes and pharmacies, and in veterans outreach centers. Some volunteers serve as drivers who help bring patients to and from medical appointments. Some participate in recreational activities, birthday celebrations or holiday events. And some simply visit with veterans, helping improve their overall quality of life.
Making A Difference
You can donate time, money and even a car to help veterans. In fact, over 500,000 people have made a vehicle donation to the MOPH since the inception of the program. You may also contact Del "Bulldog" Turner, MOPH National VAVS Director, by phone at (256) 891-0592 or by e-mail at dplusk@aol.com. For more information on the MOPH VAVS program or to join in our other volunteer efforts, visit www.purpleheart.org.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Saturday, May 23, 2009
1988: President Reagan at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Supreme Court Concurs With The American Legion's Stand on Public Monuments
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A ruling announced this week by the U.S. Supreme Court gives weight to an argument by The American Legion against the placing of public monuments that could threaten the sanctity of veterans memorials. Justices ruled unanimously that an obscure religious group cannot use a "free speech" argument to force a small Utah city to erect a granite marker in a local park that is home to a long-standing monument to the Ten Commandments.
"At first glance, this ruling may seem unrelated to us, but it actually sets a precedent that is very important to veterans groups," said David K. Rehbein, National Commander of The American Legion. "The Justices have said, in effect, that a local government can choose what donated public displays it cares to exhibit on public land - and what displays it can reject. This reduces the chance that a monument to an enemy or dissenting group, for instance, could be erected in the same space as a monument to our fallen warriors."
The ruling stems from a case precipitated by a small Salt Lake City, Utah-based religious group called Summum. Summum went to federal court after its effort to erect a marker in Pleasant Grove City, Utah was rejected by the city. Summum maintained that the city violated its right to free speech by refusing the donated monument. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver agreed with the religious group, but the Supreme Court ruling reverses that decision.
The American Legion played an active role in the oral argument phase of the case. Last year, Liberty Legal Institute in Plano, Texas filed an amicus brief on behalf of The Legion and several colleague veterans and military service organizations. The brief's argument summary stated:
"The precedent established by the Tenth Circuit lays the foundation for the destruction of all donated veterans memorials nationwide and chills the erection of any future memorials. From the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA, to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial on The Mall in Washington, DC, to the myriad Spirit of the American Doughboy WWI memorials like that in Ft. Smith, AR, this precedent will require all governments, from the smallest municipality to the Congress itself, to make an impossible decision: either fail to honor our veterans by any donated monument whatsoever, tear down those that currently exist, or allow a monument honoring our veterans and then, upon donation, erect on the same hallowed ground one that dishonors them."
In his favorable Supreme Court opinion, Justice Samuel Alito said that while efforts to suppress actual speech in public parks would ordinarily violate the First Amendment, erection of donated physical entities such as markers and monuments is a different matter. Justice Alito said "the display of a permanent monument in a public park" defines, in part, a community's identity and, so, "cities and other jurisdictions take some care in accepting donated monuments."
Commander Rehbein notes that the Supreme Court has also agreed to hear a case later this year involving the suppression of a war memorial in the Mojave Desert. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the memorial to World War I veterans is unconstitutional because it is the shape of a cross, which might connote religious symbolism. A proposal to transfer the land upon which the now-cloaked monument rests to the VFW, which erected the cross in 1934, was also ruled unconstitutional by the court. "Obviously, we favor the full and free display of that monument," said the Commander. "The Supreme Court ruling gives us hope for a good outcome in that matter, too."
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
"At first glance, this ruling may seem unrelated to us, but it actually sets a precedent that is very important to veterans groups," said David K. Rehbein, National Commander of The American Legion. "The Justices have said, in effect, that a local government can choose what donated public displays it cares to exhibit on public land - and what displays it can reject. This reduces the chance that a monument to an enemy or dissenting group, for instance, could be erected in the same space as a monument to our fallen warriors."
The ruling stems from a case precipitated by a small Salt Lake City, Utah-based religious group called Summum. Summum went to federal court after its effort to erect a marker in Pleasant Grove City, Utah was rejected by the city. Summum maintained that the city violated its right to free speech by refusing the donated monument. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver agreed with the religious group, but the Supreme Court ruling reverses that decision.
The American Legion played an active role in the oral argument phase of the case. Last year, Liberty Legal Institute in Plano, Texas filed an amicus brief on behalf of The Legion and several colleague veterans and military service organizations. The brief's argument summary stated:
"The precedent established by the Tenth Circuit lays the foundation for the destruction of all donated veterans memorials nationwide and chills the erection of any future memorials. From the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA, to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial on The Mall in Washington, DC, to the myriad Spirit of the American Doughboy WWI memorials like that in Ft. Smith, AR, this precedent will require all governments, from the smallest municipality to the Congress itself, to make an impossible decision: either fail to honor our veterans by any donated monument whatsoever, tear down those that currently exist, or allow a monument honoring our veterans and then, upon donation, erect on the same hallowed ground one that dishonors them."
In his favorable Supreme Court opinion, Justice Samuel Alito said that while efforts to suppress actual speech in public parks would ordinarily violate the First Amendment, erection of donated physical entities such as markers and monuments is a different matter. Justice Alito said "the display of a permanent monument in a public park" defines, in part, a community's identity and, so, "cities and other jurisdictions take some care in accepting donated monuments."
Commander Rehbein notes that the Supreme Court has also agreed to hear a case later this year involving the suppression of a war memorial in the Mojave Desert. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the memorial to World War I veterans is unconstitutional because it is the shape of a cross, which might connote religious symbolism. A proposal to transfer the land upon which the now-cloaked monument rests to the VFW, which erected the cross in 1934, was also ruled unconstitutional by the court. "Obviously, we favor the full and free display of that monument," said the Commander. "The Supreme Court ruling gives us hope for a good outcome in that matter, too."
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
