For Immediate Release:
November 11, 2011
Contact: Elise Marsh
703-772-7168
McLean - Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA-34) today issued the following statement honoring Veterans Day:
On Veterans Day, we remember particularly how blessed we are to live in a country that celebrates liberty and promotes freedom. Those freedoms are protected around the clock by the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. Our way of life would not be possible without the work and sacrifice of our veterans who selflessly serve our country. Today we honor their sacrifices and thank our veterans.
Our community is blessed with both those who serve our country and our community and those who support and appreciate them. We have so many wonderful groups that help our veterans, our wounded warriors, and their families and I just wanted to highlight a few:
- ThanksUSA, founded by two sisters in McLean, has a mission to provide college, technical and vocational school need-based scholarships for the children and spouses of active-duty US military personnel. The young sisters, Rachel and Kelsi Okun, were only 10 and 8, when they were inspired in 2005 by their McLean neighbor, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Lanier Ward, who had been severely injured in Iraq. Although the girls had already sent care packages from school and church and they had written letters to the soldiers, they had a simple desire to do something more. This inspiration has now grown into a charity providing hundreds of scholarships. To learn more about ThanksUSA click here.
- Military Appreciation Mondays, spearheaded by Bob Nelson of Great Falls atThe Olde Brogue restaurant in Great Falls, is a monthly event to raise money for a military charity. The events are held the last Monday of the month at The Olde Brogue in Great Falls and feature a different charity each month. Bob and his co-sponsors each month donate ten percent of the tab of each diner who attends to the designated charity. They have recently featured local charities such as the Navy SEAL Foundation, Operation One Voice, and Our Military Kids. This month, Military Appreciation Mondays will feature Stop Soldier Suicide. Bob also invites servicemen and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and treats them to dinner. To learn more about Military Appreciation Mondays click here.
Since these are only just a few of the great charities serving our veterans and their families, I would invite you to share information on other charities on our Facebook page.
May God bless our veterans, may God bless all who wear the uniform, and may God continue to bless the United States of America and this Commonwealth.
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