Honoring Veteran's Day 2009 in North Carolina

It is amazing how a simple thought can transpire into a magical week when you combine the imaginations of individuals with a passion to honor our military men and women. The festivities of Veteran’s Day Week 2009 all began with reading an email forwarded to me by Pat Miraglia, HR. The email described how a Delta Flight Attendant offers her customers the opportunity to send warm sentiments to deployed military heroes by bringing journals aboard her flights and asking customers to write in them. What a simple and thoughtful way to send greetings from home.

That email prompted a week long post card drive at RDU. The week began with a kick off ceremony in the American and American Eagle gate area with words from Daniel Mitchell, AA General Manager, and singing of the National Anthem by Janice Fletcher, SERO employee. Customers all throughout the terminal stood still with their hands over their hearts as our National Anthem was sung. Between our employees and customers 1,000 postcards were signed to be sent to our deployed troops.

The SERO celebrated Veteran’s Day with a membership drive and bake sale fundraiser. Six hundred and fifty dollars was raised to support local VMERG events. Employees signed approximately 100 post cards along with journals which will also be sent to deployed troops.

A tribute to the fallen soldiers of Ft Hood was created at a nearby table by Mark Montrose. On the table were name plaques of each fallen soldier accompanied by a single yellow rose. Employees stopped by the table and had a moment of silence to show their respect for our nation’s fallen heroes.

A big “Thank You” goes out to the many work groups including Reservations, Sales, Admiral’s Club, Flight Service, Gate, Ticket Counter, Management, Administrative and both American and American Eagle employees who help make this Veteran’s Day week special. I am honored to work for a great company along with caring co-workers. More photos can be viewed at www.vmerg.myphotoalbum.com.

Susan “Sam” Seelbach
VMERG National President

Xerox is Doing Something Cool!

If you go to this website http://www.letssaythanks.com/, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and send to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and pass it on for others to do. We can never say “Thank You” enough.

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Please share!! 
This is the time of year when emails circulate asking folks to send Christmas and holiday cards to 'Any Wounded Soldier' at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.....which, sad to say, you CANNOT do, due to security considerations. However, there IS still a way to get those cards to recovering soldiers at Walter Reed, and elsewhere.........

The American Red Cross again will sponsor a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to service members, veterans and their families in the United States and abroad. The card campaign includes those working and receiving care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc., will partner for the third year to provide screening of all mail sent to the following P.O. Box address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Cards should be postmarked no later than Dec. 7 to reach servicemembers recovering at Walter Reed.

People shouldn’t send cards to Walter Reed unless they are addressed to a specific wounded warrior.
Due to security restrictions, Walter Reed cannot accept generic mail addressed to “A Recovering Soldier” or “Any Soldier.” In past years, hundreds of cards were returned to senders and more recently thrown away because of generic addresses, many sent in response to misleading e-mails. Please pass this along to anyone you think might wish to send cards to recovering wounded troops.

http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/NewsAndEvents/media/resource/Lists/wrarticles/DispForm.aspx?Id=404&

Veteran's Day News Release

Click on the following link for a Veteran's Day News Release which features AA's Veteran's Initiatives and VMERG.
 American Airlines, American Eagle and Employees Salute Veterans and Military Personnel

Wagon for Snowball Express Children

Below is a letter from Kevin Barker, builder of Snowball Express wagon for the children. This is a joint effort by the TWU ATD Veterans Committee and VMERG. Anyone who can help with this project will be appreciated.

Thank you and all the VMERG & TWU Locals for their help and support of the Snowball Express wagon. The smile on the faces of these children will return your contribution tenfold. Your VMERG & TWU logo will be carved in the panels on the wagon and will be recognized wherever it is displayed. Your employees/members will be able to see the wagon in the Walk of Gratitude for Snowball Families, Cotton Bowl Parade, Two Ft. worth Stock Show Rodeos plus the Parade, Macy's Parade next year, Cheyenne Frontier Days and possibly in the Dallas Cowboy Half time program on Dec. 13, 2009. These are just a few of the venues we have lined up and we haven't even started soliciting others yet. We plan to use this wagon year round to bring awareness of the Children that have given such a huge sacrifice to our nation. I have attached a picture of the wagon, before we change out the carved panels.

Respectfully,
Kevin Barker

Please send all Donations directly to: put in Note section of Check: "TWU-AA Wagon Project"

Snowball Express Dept D8256
PO Box 650002
Dallas TX 75265-002

Meet and Greet the Troops - DFW

Greet our returning military men and women at the international arrival gate (downstairs outside of security) and shake the hand of our heroes on their way home for two weeks of R&R. Thank them for their service to our country! You'll never regret it! Bring flags or posters to show your support.

Call 972-574-0392 for the military recording of the exact arrival time with the 12 hour window.

Time: 0730 - 1000
Where: Terminal D, Gate 22 - downstairs outside security

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. 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 date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Details can be found here: www.goldencorral.com/military

To locate a Golden Corral near you, visit www.goldencorral.com/locator

Tribute to the Troops-Wounded Warriors Charter Flight

American Airlines is partnering with the Blue Man Group, Sands Foundation and ThanksUSA to host wounded warriors and their spouses from around the country for a special weekend in Las Vegas. American is chartering one of its yellow-ribbon aircraft to bring this special group to Las Vegas to thank them for their sacrifice and service to our country. The American Airlines “Yellow Ribbon Express” will have a send-off reception and take off from Washington, D.C. (DCA), travel to San Antonio (SAT) for a welcome reception and pick up more heroes, and then arrive at Las Vegas (LAS) to another welcome reception and enjoy a weekend of relaxation and educational seminars sponsored by the Sands Foundation and The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. On Thursday, a special Blue Man Group performance at 7 p.m. will honor America’s heroes, with all proceeds from ticket sales supporting ThanksUSA’s program to provide scholarships for the spouses and children of military men and women.

Not in the Military…BUT still want to get the discount?

Purchase at Stein Mart or Bring in an item from the list below and you’ll be helping the troops while getting the amazing 10% off your entire purchase offer. All donations will be taken to the USO at DFW Airport.
Visit any Stein Mart location in the Metroplex on November 10 & 11. For the Store nearest you go to http://www.steinmart.com/.  Operation Send-Off Needs List:
Miscellaneous Items
• Men’s Underwear
• Ladies Underwear
• Men’s & Women’s socks to wear with Boots
• Ear Plugs
• Travel Pillows
• Batteries
• AT&T International Calling Cards
• Starbucks Coffee (16 oz. bags of coffee beans or instant)
Personal Items
• Lip Balm
• Travel Sized Toothpaste
• Travel Sized Foot Powder
• Travel Sized Toothbrushes
• Travel Sized Shaving Cream
• Travel Sized Deodorant
Snack Items
• Beef Jerky
• Regular Sized Candy Bars
• Peanuts/Mixed Nuts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Trail Mix
• Granola/Power Bars
• Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers
• Chewing Gum

Operation Homefront's Holiday Toy Shop

A major retailer is providing military families with a chance to shop for their families free of charge! Volunteers are needed to make this a success.

December 3 - 1000-1500

December 4
0700-0800 opening activities
0900-1600 registration
0800-1600 elf shopping assistant
0800-1600 food and beverage
1600-1900 clean up

Anytime you can give is appreciated. National Guard Armory in Fayetteville, NC.

A Special Thank You from Applebee's

Dallas Veteran's Day Parade

Attention American Airlines VMERG Members You're Cordially Invited!  Join us on the ASY Texas "We Support Our Troops - Freedom is not Free" Float.  Free ASY Texas tee shirts for all Volunteers

Dallas, Texas Veteran's Day Parade Wednesday, November 11, 2009

For more information please send an email! Sign up on Jetnet under Employee Programs, American Volunteer.

Jack R. Barnes, US Navy Retired
President, America Supports You Texas
"Honoring All Who Served"
Veterans Day, November 11, 2009
www.AmericaSupportsYouTexas.org
jrbarnes0407@gmail.com
asytexas@amaonline.com