American Airlines and USO of Illinois Open Cyber Canteen for U.S. Troops at O'Hare International Airport

Come Join Us for the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade!

http://www.caryjaycees.org/special/christmas_parade.htm

Click to purchase tickets - http://www.skyballviii.com/

Gene Simmons Military Tribute

Click Here

VMERG on Facebook

Check us out on Facebook  www.facebook.com/amrvmerg

---EAGLE ANNOUNCES DFW-COLUMBUS, GA., SERVICE---

American Eagle announced it will begin nonstop jet service between DFW and Columbus, Ga., beginning July 15. Eagle will operate the service with 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets. Columbus, Ga., is home to Fort Benning, a major U.S. Army post, as well as the National Civil War Naval Museum.Read more in the

http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2913

-AA, EAGLE & EMPLOYEES HONOR VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL-

American, American Eagle and their employees have continued their long-standing support of veterans and active military service members through a variety of special activities in recent weeks. During the first quarter of 2010, AA, Eagle and employee volunteers supported a number of initiatives related to the military and veterans, including:

• Medal of Honor charter flight  
• Women Airforce Service Pilots event  
• Gary Sinise concerts  
• Medal of Honor Portrait presentations  
• Honor Flights  
• Legends of Aerospace Tour  
• United States Honor Flag  
• Veteran/Military Employee Resource Group (VMERG) 

Read more about support for these events by the company and its employees 

http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2912

Operation Hi Mom!

Know a soldier abroad who won’t be home for Mother’s Day? This year, Canvas on Demand, a company that turns your photos into canvas portraits, will send a 16” x 20” canvas to any Mom of a deployed service member for free ($112 value). The soldier just needs to register for “Operation: Hi Mom!” and upload a photo.
http://cool.canvasondemand.com/category/operation-hi-mom-honey/operation-hi-honey/

VMERG and the Boston employees will dedicating gate B33 to the Marines during a ceremony at 4pm on Monday, May 3rd.  Marine Week Boston website

Support Our Troops: Chrysler, Ram Truck Brand To Send One Million "Letters for Lyrics" to U.S. Soldiers

Starting in May, Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand will kick off the "Letters for Lyrics" national campaign with a target of sending one million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world. Participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier will receive a special compilation CD entitled, "Breaking Southern Ground," while supplies last.

The nonprofit organization, Soldier's Angels, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldier's Angels is a volunteer-based organization known for providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.

Click here for more information regarding the letter drive "Letters for Lyrics"

Click here to find the closet Ram truck dealer Ram Trucks

Saving Fuel With a New Purpose

What if a pilot using single-engine taxi not only saved fuel, but allowed a wounded soldier to reunite with his family at home? Or if the process of connecting ground power and pre-conditioned air helped a Vietnam vet arrive on time for his regular therapy treatment? A partnership between Fuel Smart and American's Veterans support team offers employees throughout the company the ability to make these and other moments possible for those who have served or currently serve in the U.S. armed forces. A portion of Fuel Smart savings generated by employees will be donated to help Veterans in need.

American announced today it will provide a portion of fuel savings generated by employees to Mercy Medical Airlift, an established not-for-profit organization that helps active military service members, veterans, and their immediate families travel for medical, counseling and diverse rehabilitation services through its Air Compassion for Veterans program. The AA Veterans Initiatives program has supported Mercy Medical Airlift's Air Compassion for Veterans program since the beginning of the year by helping to arrange travel on American and American Eagle. The initiative is being expanded through a partnership with American's Fuel Smart program, an employee-driven fuel conservation effort.

Wounded Warrior Half Marathon

Wounded Warrior Half Marathon, 10K and Military Mile Fun Run on June 13th in Las Colinas (TX) to benefit the Semper Fi fund and ReserveAid.   http://www.woundedwarriorhalf.com/

Pacific Honor Flight Video

The link below will take you to the video HBO produced in regard to the Honor Flight we helped sponsor. Thanks to all the VMERG volunteers, they all did an incredible job!

The video will play on HBO in conjunction with the broadcast of the series.

http://www.hbo.com/#/the-pacific/inside/the-pacific-tribute-campaign/video/the-buzz-the-honor-flight.html/

"The Pacific" Video Tribute Campaign

If you get the opportunity, visit the C.R. Smith Museum before the end of May and stop by the HBO kiosk to record a personal message of thanks to our veterans and active duty military.  Please share with your members and remember a simple thank you goes a long way.

 

PS. If you haven't had the chance to tune into "The Pacific" on HBO, you are missing out. It can be a little difficult to watch as it paints the picture for those of us who have not had to fight in a war of just what these heroes really have gone through.

Green Beret Foundation

The United States Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets, produces some of our nation’s finest and most elite warriors. They fight across a broad spectrum of missions in the pursuit of freedom for those oppressed and to protect our nation from those who seek to do us harm. They are known as our country's quiet professionals. The Green Berets have been defending our nation against its enemies throughout the last 5 decades in times of peace and war.

The liberties we enjoy as Americans don’t come without a cost. The Special Forces bear the burden of having the highest number of wounded personnel of any other U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) proponent. The Green Beret Foundation serves these quiet professionals who bravely serve the American people and its freedoms.

In an effort to fill the gaps in support left by the boundaries of other organizations, the GBF facilitates assistance to our wounded, ill and injured Special Forces soldiers and their families. We do this by providing resources to ease the burdens of some of the financial hardships that arise in their time of need as well as improving the quality of life for the soldier and the family.

http://www.greenberetfoundation.org/

New Pictures of Recent Events

Check out the newly updated pictures at www.vmerg.myphotoalbum.com

Point Man International Ministries

Point Man International Ministries (http://www.pmim.org/) is a service organization with an evangelical purpose that keeps Jesus Christ as its focal point. PMIM acts as a referral service to connect hurting veterans and their families to their Outpost and Home Front system for continued support and fellowship. These support groups are available at no charge, and utilize the gospel of Jesus Christ and Biblical principles to facilitate healing and restoration. The local DFW Outpost and Home Front operates out of Gateway Church in Southlake and meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 7pm of each month. It is open to all active duty military, veterans, and their families. For more information about the group, please email bob.roth@gatewaypeople.com or call 817-683-7728.

PMIM also participates in national conferences, international publishing, radio and television as well as other forms of media to help educate and raise awareness of the needs of veterans around the world.

WWII Pacific Veterans Honor Flight to DC

The following two news stories highlights the send off of WWII Pacific Veterans from Miami and Boston on their way to DC to see the premier of HBO's new miniseries "The Pacific".
Miami    Boston

Rockford IL Air Fest 2009

The ORD VMERG Chapter successfully participated in the Rockford IL Air Fest last year and helped secure both an AA and Eagle static display. The following YouTube link highlights events of the weekend which shows both the AA 737-800 and Eagle ERG145 landing - http://www.youtube.com/flyrfd2009

Here is a link to the Latitude Magazine article Latitude Magazine Article

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting-edge training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post 9/11 military veterans disabled as a result of their service. For more information go to http://www.whitman.syr.edu/ebv/.