Applebee’s Restaurant – Free dinners to veterans throughout Veterans Day November 11th; selections will be from a new Veterans Day menu.

Outback Steakhouse – Free Blooming Onion and beverage.

Golden Corral- Free buffet dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 16 to anyone who has ever served in the U.S. military Staff.

MILITARY DISCOUNTS UPDATE 02:  All these businesses offer military discounts; all you have to do is ask:

Restaurants

· Arby’s · A&W · Back Yard Burgers · Burger King · Captain D’s · Chick-Fil-A · Cotton Patch

· Denny’s · Dunkin’ Donuts · Farmers Boy · IHOP (20 percent discount with military identification)

· Java Café · KFC · Long John Silver · Pancho’s Mexican Buffet · Pizza Hut · Quizno’s · Sizzler

· Sonic · Taco Bell · Whataburger

Services

· AT&T · California Cryobank · Geico · Jiffy Lube · Meineke · Sears Portrait Studio

Travel and Leisure

· Blockbuster · Movie theaters · Ripley’s attractions and museums · Professional Sports teams

Products

· Apple Computers · AutoZone · Barnhill’s · Bass Pro Shop · Bath and Body Works

· Big 10 Tires · The Buckle · Champs Sports · Copeland’s Sports · Dell

· The Discovery Channel Store · Dress Barn · The Finish Line · Foot Action · Footlocker

· Gadzooks · GNC · Goody’s · Great Party· Happy Harry’s ·Home Depot · Hot Topic

· Jockey · Lerner ·Lowe’s  · Michael’s · NAPA Auto Parts · New York & Company · Pac Sun

· Payless Shoes · Play It Again Sports · Pure Beauty · Sally Beauty Supply · Spencer’s Gifts

· Suncoast · Timberland Outlets · Wilson’s Leather

Cell Phone Service Discount – All Federal employees are able to get a 15% discount on their personal cell phones by calling their carrier and mentioning the “Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 – Discount to Federal Employees Past and Present.” You will need to know the military member’s supervisor’s name, phone number, and full address, so that his/her military status can be verified.  Use the following contact numbers:

• Cingular – 800-319-6393

• Sprint – 877-812-1223

• T-Mobile – 866-646-4688

• Nextel – 800-639-6111

• Verizon – 800-865-1825

Vietnam Veterans might remember these two sisters.  They were some of the entertainers who brightened Christmas a little for them on one of Bob Hope’s tours.  Back then Joan and Alexandra Sliwin were known as Honey, LTD.  Today as the Group, “Like Honey” they will still be singing for their soldiers on the “Flag Still Stands for Freedom Veterans Day Telethon” on Saturday, November 6th.

The sisters started singing together as children growing up in Detroit. Michigan.  Their careers started with piano lessons, church choirs and neighborhood talent shows.  In high school they joined a folk music group.  The following year, Alex left for college and became a member of “After Five” a jazz singing group.  “After Five” appeared in local night clubs and the Detroit Auto show.  Little sister Joan joined the others when it reformed into the “Mama Cats” singing rock and soul.

As the “Mama Cats” the girls’ careers began to take off. Their first big break was signing with Hideout Records where they would record and perform with big-name performers like Bob Seeger.  Seeger even wrote their first single, “Miss You“. During their time at Hideout, they were fortunate to meet Glen Frey who later formed the group, “The Eagles.”

1968 was a huge year for them.  They moved to Los Angeles and signed with Lee Hazelwood’s LHI records. Fray followed them to Los Angeles and there was introduced by the girls to J.D. Souther, a co-founder of the Eagles.  The sisters are even thanked on the Eagles’ “Longbranch Pennywhistle” album  for their “Inspirationticipation.”

Once in Los Angeles they changed the name of their act to Honey Ltd., and started doing television appearances. If you had been watching then, you would have seen them on “The Jerry Lewis Show.” “The Andy Williams Show,” and “Operation Entertainment,” just to name a few.

That same year, they appeared at Caesar’s Palace and did numerous television commercials.  They also toured locally making personal appearances.  It was while they were doing a concert in Anaheim that Bob Hope saw them and invited them to go with him on his Christmas tour to Vietnam.

Honey Ltd split up with each of the singers following their own career path.  Joan sang and recorded with “Eve” on Jimmy Bowen’s “Amos Records”.  As part of “Eve” she helped write and record the music for the movie “Vanishing Point.”  Together the sisters wrote and recorded on the United Artist.  They continued to work for several labels as part of different acts until Joan decided to try country music.

Her career took an interesting turn as Joan went to Nashville and began appearing with country superstar Loretta Lynn.  With Loretta she appeared on shows like Grand Ol’ Opry and the tonight show.  Enticed by her sister’s success. Alex also came to Nashville and soon found herself writing for musicals and appearing in numerous television commercials.

They later headed in opposite directions with Alex going back to the west coast and Joan moving to New York.  In Los Angeles Alex pursued a successful songwriting career while Joan continued writing and singing in New York.  After years of separation the sisters have finally reunited and have begun singing together again.

They are now based in Del Ray Beach, Florida where they tour and sing oldies rock tunes.  Their music has been described as a sensational silky sound.  Many veterans in our audience will enjoy hearing the voices of the girls who captured their hearts so long ago in Vietnam.

Vietnam veteran Walter Schmidt will be a guest on the “Flag Still Stands for Freedom Veterans Day Telethon” on Saturday, November 6th to talk about the “Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island“.

Walter is an amazing guy and a monumental example for others to follow. He pulled 3 tours of duty as a Navy communication specialist on the Mekong Delta.  Twenty-five years after being doused with Agent Orange there, Walter developed tetraplegia and is now disabled with limited use of only his right arm and hand.  This may have slowed down his body but not his passion for working with our Country’s veterans.

As a VA-accredited Veterans Services Officer, he still works five days a week from 7 am to 6 pm along with many weekends. The Veteran Services Office represents the thirty-six communities of the Town of Oyster Bay.  Their mission is “to advance the interests of veterans and their families and to encourage informed involvement in the processes and activities that affect them.”

Nassau and Suffolk counties contain over 270,000 veterans.  That averages 1veteran in every 4th household.  In the Town of Oyster Bay the ratio is 1 to 3.

The Department of Veterans Affairs runs a wonderful healthcare network but when a veteran tries to access services, or get a question answered, he is often frustrated.  Since he has been through many of the same experiences himself, Walter can help his clients through many difficult situations.  Using his motto “Let no veteran stand alone” as his banner, he writes a weekly blog that contains information for veterans trying to access their VA Benefits.

Walter also works in many organizations.  He is a member of Vietnam Veterans, The American Legion,  The U.S. Military Veterans Network, The Military Network, Nonprofit Professionals, Disabled American Veterans, The Non-Profit and Charity Network, Linked VSO Leaders, The U.S. Navy Veterans Group, The GI Pictures Veterans’ Advocacy Group, and The Legislative Affairs Network.

When Walter isn’t writing for such entities as Microsoft’s,  “Expert Zone”,  PC and Lotus magazines, “NYSSCPA The CPA Journal, and the NY State Council Vietnam Veterans of America publication, “The Interchange, he does speaking engagements and is a certified “Toastmaster”.

Walters passion for his fellow veterans, doesn’t stop with all the organizations and activities we’ve previously mentioned.  He is also a founding member of the Veterans Health Alliance of Long Island.  This advocacy organization was founded to promote the health and well-being of Long Island veterans and their families through a broad array of services and on the Veterans Day Telethon, Walter will be sharing more information about this organization!

If you have been following our blogs these past few weeks you know about the big name musicians who will be performing.  You’ve read about just a few of the charities that will be highlighted and are aware of the important work they do.  You have seen the links to some of the books whose authors we will be interviewing.

The sneak preview is going to be an exciting show itself.  Not only will I be playing some clips of the music you are going to hear but I will have these great people on as guests during the show:

• Howie Vaughn, the front man for the Los-Angeles-based group, “Coldwater Canyon Band“.  Howie is a veteran who spent three years in the military.

• Debbie Burak, Founder of “VeteranAid.org” and longtime advocate of the VA pension called Aid & Attendance.  Debbie found out the hard way that this benefit, which pays the disabled veteran or surviving spouse extra money to hire an attendant to help them with their activities of daily living, is difficult to obtain.

• Torrey Shannon, National spokesperson & Co-director of “Cleaning For Heroes”.  This is a nationwide, free service to help elderly or disabled veterans, firefighters, and policemen to maintain their homes.  This includes house and window cleaning, duct cleaning, small household repairs, landscaping, and pest control.

• And of course, the show could not be complete without our Telethon Co-host Dabney Porte of “Diva Coach Dabney“.  Dabney’s purpose in life is to change the world one Diva at a time.  Although she focuses her efforts on the empowerment of women, everyone can benefit from her strong message of self confidence and action.

If you haven’t already joined our Veterans Day contests, “Social Media Buzz” and “Show Us Your Red, White & Blue“, you will want to do so immediately to being entered in the drawings for gift baskets filled with all kinds of goodies donated by our guests and performers!

The sneak preview to the telethon will be just one hour long but it is jam-packed with entertainment and information.  Don’t miss the pep rally scheduled for October 28th at 7pm EST!  To access the live preview show, just visit http://flagstillstandsforfreedom.com

The “Flag Still Stands For Freedom Veterans Day Telethon” has three reasons for being on the air.  The first, and by far most important, is to recognize and honor our veterans.  In doing this we also highlight and raise money for many of the charities that support them.

The second reason is to encourage people to fly their flags as a symbol of their support for this country and the men and women who protect it.

Thirdly we want this telethon to be a joyous celebration.  A celebration of freedom and the American way of life.  That is why we are bringing so many great entertainers on to help us have a good time.

What better way to combine all three than to have a contest.  Competing and winning prizes certainly is fun and a contest that encourages people to honor our country and its veterans by flying their flag is a perfect addition to this show.

If you want to be an active part of this telethon, then Show Us Your Red, White and Blue!  We want all of you to proudly display your flags between now and the time of the Telethon, then keep them flying through Veterans Day.  If you decide you want to continue to fly it forever, well, that’s all right with us!

All you have to do to enter is to take a picture of your flag out where folks can see it, and send it to us at laurakennedylive@gmail.com.  Your name will then be entered in our drawing which will be held during the LIVE event on November 6th.  The deadline for getting your picture in is November 5th.

We are going to love seeing your pictures but there is no prize for most, or biggest, or cutest kid holding a flag.  The best portrait will stand an equal chance with the simplest snapshot.  Also, while we would love to see your vintage patriotic pictures, the purpose of this contest is to get you to show off Old Glory today for our veterans to see as they pass by. We want a picture of what you are currently doing to honor our flag.

The prize for the contest will be a gift basket of items donated by our telethon guests and entertainers, so here is a chance for you to get a souvenir from some of your favorite stars.  Considering the quality of our lineup, all of them will be items you will be proud to own and show off.

We know that the real prize for you is the lump in your throat you get when you see you flag flying in your front yard or even on proud display on your desk at work. Maybe you will become an inspiration to others to fly their flag as well.

We hope that flags will go on display all across this great country from city skyscrapers to farmer’s fences.  The real way to win this contest is to be able to look around you and see flags up everywhere and to know you are a part of this outpouring of love for country.

Don’t forget to listen to the Veterans Day Virtual Telethon on Saturday, November 6th, where we will announce the winner of the contest.  If you miss it, then you can always come back to this website where winners’ names will be posted.

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and MySpace have become powerful forces in American society.  Once a buzz gets started it’s often hard to stop it.  What better way to spread the word about an event of the magnitude? So today we are launching a contest that will reward those that assist us in spreading the word by entering them in a drawing.

It’s really very simple, just spread the word in one or more of the social media sites and then come back and enter your name and email address!  We will announce 3 winners LIVE during the Telethon.  The deadline for the contest is noon on November 5th.

The prize for the contest will be a gift basket of items donated by our telethon guests and entertainers, so here is a chance for you to get a souvenir from some of your favorite stars.  Considering the quality of our lineup, all of them will be items you will be proud to own and show off.

Don’t know what to say to your friends about us?  If you don’t have room for anything else, tell them about this website where they can go to get information about everything we are doing here.

If you have space after you post the link to the site, let them know that we are hosting the third annual “Veterans Day Virtual Telethon” on Saturday, November 6th.  Encourage your friends to come to the site beforehand to take a look at all of the interesting stuff we have here.

They can read the great inspirational stories about our wounded veterans who have overcome incredible odds.  Or maybe they will want to get a preview of the generous charities that will be highlighted during our telethon.

Of course we will have some super entertainment, from big stars like Charlie Daniels, Ed Bruce and Little Texas to the seasoned veterans like the musicians of Waymore’s Outlaws who stood on stage behind the great stars before stepping into the limelight with their own band.  There are so many generous entertainers coming.  Who is your favorite that you would like to tell your friends about?

While you are telling folks about our show and our website don’t forget to encourage them to fly our country’s flag between now and Veteran’s Day to honor the men and women who served our country.  Let them know about the “Show Us your Red, White and Blue” contest.  Most of all, tell them about this contest.  If they will post their own buzz about us and then get some of their friends…

So what do you say?  Let’s get something started today that will snowball into an outpouring of support for our telethon, our guests, our veterans and our flag.  Thanks to everyone who reads this and decides to join the “This Flag Still Stands for Freedom” team with their own telethon Social Media Buzz!

See the basket contents here

Laura Kennedy of Talk Show LauraKennedyLive, finds the strength to keep this vigil through  an inner fortitude that has gotten her through some very hard times in her life.  She believes that there are only four things that you can count on: Family, God, Country, and Yourself.

As a young girl she dreamed of a life bigger than what her small hometown had to offer.  She enlisted in the Navy at the age of eighteen in spite of the belief of friends and family that women had no place in the military and that she would surely fail.

Her internal will and determination led her to accomplish much in her twenty-one year career in the service.  Each time she faced an obstacle she found it less daunting than the one she encountered before.

She lost a loved one in Beirut, was an eyewitness to the fall of the Berlin wall, and helped train young sailors for the leadership roles they would assume during their Naval careers. Her main support during those times were the love of her family and her pride in her country.

She retired from the military in January of 2001 and began another career as a construction operations officer.  On September 11, 2001 she was at a meeting in the World Trade Center when someone came into the room and ordered everyone to evacuate the building.  Because of her military training she immediately obeyed the order without stopping to question why.  This instinctive response saved her life.

Later she fought a feeling of guilt – guilt for being out of uniform at a time when others were being called to confront America’s enemies.  Like many others, she found solace in the flags that were being flown everywhere to symbolize America’s strength and unity.

She threw herself into her occupation, working ceaselessly to do her part to keep America strong.  She kept up a punishing schedule until two years ago, without symptoms or warning, she suffered an AVM hemorrhage in her brain.  As she lay in the hospital in a coma, her neurologist declared her condition inoperable and gave her permission to die.  She struggled back to consciousness and by sheer will regained much of her former health.

Although she still struggles from the fallout from that crisis, she has resumed her punishing schedule both in her work with veterans and the homeless and in her career as a small business consultant.  In that job she works with clients teaching them to lower their overhead costs and increase production by using virtual assets.

She also, teaches people how to improve their business relationships through networking and helps them develop leadership skills.  In addition she maintains a variety of professional and patriotic blogs, hosts a radio show, develops e-courses and writes books.  In her spare time she plans and assembles a yearly telethon to highlight charities that work to help veterans.

Where will she find the strength to keep the vigil through the “The Flag Still Stands for Freedom Veterans Day Telethon” on Saturday November 6th.  In her own words, “The hand that wipes the tears from your eyes will be family.  The fire that burns inside you will be stoked by God.  The will that keeps you taking one step after another will come from inside you. And the strongest symbol of pride and freedom, to become your successful self will be the flag of our country.“

Golden Corral’s 9^th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner was a huge success honoring over 335,000 veterans and active duty military with a free dinner buffet and beverage. All Golden Corral restaurants nationwide participated in this event to honor our military heroes, past and present.

Golden Corral restaurants and guests collected a record total of over $808,000 for the Disabled American Veterans organization to be used by state and local chapters to assist veterans.

To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.1 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

November 15, 2010 will mark the 10th anniversary of Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

The free dinner meal is a special “thank you tribute” to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

To:  All Veterans and their families

We know it’s a bit early but we’d like to give you an early heads up and ask for your assistance in spreading the word about some very good news: and the news is this: Applebee’s would like to say THANK YOU!

This upcoming Veterans Day (Thursday, November 11, 2010), Applebee’s will thank our nation’s veterans and active duty military by inviting them to their neighborhood Applebee’s for a free meal.

On this national day of respect and remembrance, Applebee’s is honored to salute veterans and active military for their service to our country.

As you may recall, Applebee’s initiated this program nationwide for the first time last year. As a result, we provided over a million free meals to members of the military.

Veterans Day turned into a military reunion at Applebee’s in neighborhoods across the country.  Veterans and active duty military from across generations enjoyed great food as they shared stories from their time serving our country.

This year, Applebee’s in offering a new Veterans Day menu, which includes some of its signature and favorite items.

So that as many veterans and military personnel as possible are aware of this open invitation, please share the news across your various communication channels.

Here are the details:

·        All U.S. veterans and active duty personnel with proof of current or former military service will eat free at all Applebee’s in their respective neighborhoods on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010.

·        Proof of service includes the following: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation.

Again, thank you!

Derek Farley
for Applebee’s
derek@dfpr.com
704-926-6580

What it doesn’t show is the shock wave that traveled through Medina’s helmet and skull, shocking his brain.  Medina appeared to sustain only minor injuries.  In reality his brain had been damaged extensively enough to change his life forever.

The invisible wound was slow to reveal itself.  It crept into his life, slurring his words and lessening his ability to concentrate.  It took months before his injury was apparent enough to cause his superiors to remove him from the theater of operations. By then his slurred speech had turned into a stutter and he was no longer able to read and comprehend a printed page.

He was medivaced to Germany in August, two months after the explosion.  There he was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and sent back to the states for treatment.  At Fort Bliss he waited another month before he met with a neurologist who wrote that Medina suffered from “multiple cognitive symptoms including poor concentration, short-term memory loss, and difficulty multi- tasking.”

Medina did not get a follow-up session until December.  At that time the neurologist wrote, “I am concerned that he may be slipping into a cycle playing the sick role.” In reality the former convoy commander was fighting to overcome the effects of his concussion.  He wanted to be well.  He wanted to stay in the Army, rejoin his unit and return to duty, but he wasn’t getting the support he needed to get well.

Typically someone with a traumatic brain injury being treated in a civilian rehabilitation center will undergo three to six hours a day of therapy.  This treatment will continue sometimes for months.  SGT Medina and many other soldiers like him received little or no treatment.  Instead the returning soldiers were accused of being malingerers, faking their symptoms to work the system.

With modern protective gear, encounters with explosive devices that once would have been fatal now often leave soldiers alive but with severe wounds.  Traumatic Brain Injury has been called the signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

The military estimates that about 150,000 troops have suffered traumatic brain injury in those two wars. But other estimates place the number at more than 400,000. Most people who suffer mild concussions soon get better but between five and fifteen percent develop long lasting cognitive disabilities.

While a traumatic brain injury is an actual physical wound, it is impossible to see and hard to diagnose.  Many soldiers are treated instead for post traumatic stress disorder.  The psychological treatment is helpful because a soldier often suffers from both, but it does nothing to rebuild the neurons destroyed when the brain tissue was damaged.

In spite of Fort Sill’s size and the money that has been poured into it to build facilities for soldiers suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, it has finally decided that it cannot provide adequate care for all of its patients.  SGT Medina was one of a handful of patients who was finally sent to Mentis, a private neurological rehabilitation facility near El Paso, Texas.

Medina has shown progress since he started in February.  His ability to read and concentration has improved to the point that he has started a blog to tell others about Traumatic Brain Disorder and its treatment.

He writes, “I might be slower right now, but I think it’s all going to get better and I want to go back to what I love doing, which is soldiering, it’s what I love to do.“

Victor and his wife, Roxana, are still fighting the battle but have turned what could have been a very dark moment in their lives into something positive by sharing his experience and educating others so that they too can see that “It does get better.”  I encourage you to connect with him on his website!