K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune, Army Spc. Alroy Billiman, who lost his arm in Iraq, was awarded a Purple Heart yesterday in Long Beach. He was fitted with a prosthesis Saturday after his medical team in San Diego learned he wished to salute at the ceremony.

Quality of Life Plus funds college engineering projects to create new, innovative solutions that improve the quality of life of our military, intelligence and law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty.  100% of proceeds will go to www.qlplus.org to support their work.  QLPlus is working with Wounded Warrior Golf to use golf swing 3-D motion capture technology as rehab.  It’s so much more fun to rehab when the golfer becomes a video game. Plus, more effective!

HONOREE: Bob Quirk, PGA Teaching Pro, Wounded Vietnam Vet

Harmon Golf – Rockland MA       Monday October 4, 2010

Continental Breakfast/Registration 8 a.m. Tee Off 9 a.m.

$200 contribution includes breakfast, golf w/cart, lunch and a substantial gift bag! Prizes include TaylorMade Putter!

Register online at:
http://woundedwarriorgolf.wordpress.com/golf-tournaments/

Or mail check made out to Wounded Warrior Golf
c/o Harmon Golf   168 Concord St. Rockland MA 02370

Celebrate the Labor Day weekend with the Museum in the Park at Chief Logan State Park at the sixth annual “Aunt Jennie’s Music Festival.”  The celebration will include two outdoor concerts on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 4 – 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 5, from 1 – 6 p.m. The concerts will be held in the park’s Liz Spurlock Amphitheater, located about one-half mile from the museum.

Jeff Ellis, a Huntington native who has released four albums including his latest, The Forgetting Place. Ellis has appeared on Mountain Stage, was a featured artist on National Public Radio, and recently was one of five co-winners in the 2008 Newsong international songwriting contest. He returned to his home in Chapmanville this year following completion of his final tour of duty in the Middle East with his Army Reserve Unit.

He’s one of the most respected and admired singer/songwriters in the state. His stirring songs, many written while on duty in Kuwait, lay bare the conflicts that this country has faced over the last eight years.

Returning for her second year with the Veterans Day Telethon is military mom and author, Judy Pugh.  In a whirlwind of pain, Judy Pugh finds herself battling through an unexpected and ugly divorce, only to come out on the other side as the full-time caregiver of her 2 1/2 year old grandson and saying goodbye to both her daughter and son-in-law as they were simultaneously deployed; her daughter, Daylena Gonzalez, with the USAF to Africa, and her son-in-law, Ernesto Gonzalez, with the Army to Iraq.

Judy’s first book “Reporting for Doodie” is the first in a series designed to acknowledge and praise the caregivers of our military children.  Her story of commitment, frustration and unwavering love details the ups and downs of her particular tour of “doodie”.  It is a story that ends in the reinvention of herself and one that she hopes others will find to be inspirational and uplifting as well.

“This is NOT the kind of book you want to check out from the library…you want to buy a copy and keep it handy so whenever you’re feeling down or overwhelmed, you can read it again and again!  It will have you rolling on the floor!”

“A military parent and author, Judy L. Smith, writes a lighthearted book called “Reporting for Doodie” about how she stepped in as sole caregiver to her grandchild when both her daughter and son-in-law were simultaneously deployed. She also provides real life solutions to those who may be undergoing similar experiences.”

Get Your Copy TODAY!

Scott H. Silverman, Author of "Tell Me No, I Dare You!"

Scott H. Silverman is the author of “tell Me No, I Dare You!” and is an in demand leadership speaker. Scott is a leader in the field of workforce development. He has received numerous awards and honors including recently being named “CNN Hero of the Week” and the City of San Diego honored him by selecting February 19th as ” Scott Silverman Day” for his contributions to the community.  Scott will be joining us LIVE on the Veterans Day Telethon on November 6th.

He is the Executive Director and Founder of Second Chance, a human services agency that is committed to breaking the cycle of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness by offering job readiness training, employment placement assistance, mental health counseling, case management, and affordable housing referrals to people who desire to change their lives. Over the past 15 years Second Chance has assisted more than 24,000 economically disadvantaged and homeless persons in San Diego gain employment and leave poverty, gang affiliations, and crime.

Just one of the many programs that Second Chance runs is the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program which assists homeless veterans gain meaningful employment and access to various support systems that address the complex barriers they encounter. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The emphasis on helping homeless veterans obtain and retain jobs is enhanced through coordinating with various veterans services and community-based programs and Second Chance’s current program to provide:

• Assistance with job readiness, vocational counseling, job skill assessment and training
• Assistance with resume preparation and interview skills
• Job placement assistance
• Assistance with food and clothing
• Temporary or transitional housing
• Financial literacy
• San Diego Homeless Court
• Referrals for medical needs including drug and alcohol abuse counseling
• Access to Veteran benefits

Lori Bell - "2010 Military Spouse of Year"

Lori Bell is a military spouse and mom, USAF veteran, and President and Founder of the National Association of Military Moms and Spouses (NAMMAS), a mentoring community of women passionate about helping each other navigate military lifestyle challenges, build relationships and have more fun too.

When her husband deployed to Afghanistan for six months with only 3 weeks notice, Lori was an instant single parent to two toddlers under three.  Realizing a need to connect with other like-minded women who could identify with the struggles of deployment, military marriage, raising kids, starting a business or establishing a career, and constant moving from place to place, Lori created NAMMAS and invited friends and acquaintances to join.  The community grew from just 7 members to now nearly 500, and through social media networks, online and offline connections, NAMMAS reaches over 5000 military moms and spouses.

Her achievements were recognized nationally by Military Spouse Magazine and she was named “2010 Military Spouse of the Year“.  Lori has been a guest on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News “Making A Difference”, Fox News Fox & Friends and The Strategy Room, and CNN.  Through her exclusive monthly column in Military Spouse Magazine and online blog, Lori shares her inspiring message of “prospering where you’re planted”, where her reach now extends to over 1.1 million military spouses in our military worldwide.

To find out more about NAMMAS or to join our community with a FREE membership, please visit www.nammas.org.

Michael Peterson is loved around the world for million selling country music chart toppers like “Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie” and “From Here To Eternity.”

Grammy and Country Music Association award nominee, Michael Peterson has a consistent commitment to excellence and is passionate about sharing his gifts which has brought him repeated recognition for outstanding service to our nation, the most recent being the 2008 Bob Hope “Spirit Of Hope” award from the USO and the U.S. Army.  For nearly 25 years, Michael Peterson has consistently created, inspired and entertained audiences around the world.

Michael is also the national spokesperson for the American Legacy Scholarship.  As an unfortunate consequence of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s war on terror, many children of our active-duty military personnel are now members of single-parent families. In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished. Children of military personnel killed on active duty are entitled to receive money toward a college education. But it’s not enough. Which is why the American Legion established this scholarship.  Michael shared his talents once again by creating the CD  “You Could Hear a Pin Drop” to benefit the American Legion Legacy Scholarship.

Support the American Legacy Scholarship and get a copy of Michael Peterson’s CD “You Could Hear A Pin Drop”.

Army Veteran, Marty Horn, President of “Any Soldier ^®“ is joining the lineup for our 2010 Veteran’s Day Telethon.  “Any Soldier ^®” started as a simple family effort to help their son, former Army Sergeant Brian Horn, who was one of the 1,000 soldiers parachuted into Northern Iraq on March 26th, 2003.

Knowing their son was living under very rough conditions, Marty and his wife sent care packages as often as they could.  What they learned along the way, was what a difference it made to not only their son but to the other members of his unit to receive contact from back home. Sending care packages is about SUPPORT, not just STUFF! A LETTER, from you, your children, the kids at church or school, is THE BEST THING to send.

“Any Soldier ^®” supports all branches of the service. They know that getting a letter or a care package is tangible evidence of support from back home, whether it is from a family member or a stranger, it does wonders to improve morale for that military member.

Not everyone gets a heap of mail or care package from home. In addition to educating on what, where and how to send things, “Any Soldier ^®” also connects supporters with those who don’t have a huge support network back home and helps supporters like YOU make a difference in the lives of many deployed soldiers. If you want to directly support your troops and improve their moral or would like to contribute to “Any Soldier^®”, please visit their website!!

James (“Doc”) Lederle as well as being a Veteran and Author, is also the Founder of “American Veteran’s Radio” and will be appearing live on the 2010 Veteran’s Day Telethon.

“Doc”works not only to support our troops, but his son, Stephen,who has already served 2 tours in Iraq as a Combat Medic and his brother, Mike, who serves in the Mi ssouri Army National Guard.  A strong and proud Army family!

James is also the author and editor of three Books, “Spiritual Dogma,” “In the Words of a Leader,” and “To Gaze Into the Eyes of Hell” which was dedicated to his son.

“American Veterans Radio” has also joined “ramp it up entertainment” and our 2010 Veteran’s Day Virtual T elethon in promoting and supporting the “Fall In Love with America – Again” Project which will take off September 11th, 2010 (with the launch of their websites, social networks, blog, video and audio channels) and continue through September 11th, 2011, when they launch their interactive multimedia touring exhibit/show.

Doc wants everyone to do more than place a bumper sticker on your vehicles supporting the troops. Volunteer at your local VA hospital and/or a Veterans Home.  Stop and just say “Thank You“ to a person in uniform, it is one of the best gifts you can give and its absolutely free.

The 3^rd annual Veteran’s Day Telethon is sponsored by LauraKennedyLive and they are honored to be sharing the air space with James Lederle to help share these stories.  The 24-hour telethon begins at 0001 on November 6^th 2010 and can be accessed from any computer worldwide!

Today launches the next phase of our 2010 Veteran’s Day campaign and I am hoping that you and your friends will all be following and participating in each phase as it is announced!  TOGETHER WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Those of you who were around for last year’s campaign remember that we did audio messages for the troops and they were so genuine and heartfelt. Here is just a sampling of those submitted last year!

This year we are asking you to put those new electronic gadgets to good use and prepare a VIDEO MESSAGE for our troops!

Original Article:  Fox 8 News