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Veterans Week 2009: We've Got Your Back

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Somewhere, high atop the mountains of Afghanistan, Marine Staff Sergeant Todd Bowers is smiling. He's not thinking about Cameron Diaz or all the Jack Daniels he'll consume when he comes home. Or at least not this minute. He's reflecting on a handshake, one that launched a historic campaign to welcome new veterans home.

A year ago today, in partnership with the Ad Council, IAVA launched a nationwide Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to let new veterans know they aren't alone. At the campaign's core is the first and only social network exclusively for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, IAVA's Community of Veterans. On this site, new vets can find mental health, educational, and family resources, but more importantly, peer support from their fellow veterans. Last year, Todd co-starred in the now iconic commercial featuring two veterans shaking hands on an empty New York street corner.

Today, he's in Afghanistan. On his fourth overseas tour since 9/11.

This is the reality for many who serve today, and for their families. That's why, today, IAVA and the Ad Council launched a new round of groundbreaking PSAs. We want vets like Todd to know that on Veterans Day, and every other day, "We've got your back."

Check out the powerful new television PSA "Camo" right now featuring Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Ronaldo Zueleta:

Thanks to tons of donated media, you will soon be viewing this ad and others like it, on television and radio channels, websites, bus stations, and airport terminals near you. And it will make a huge impact. In just a year, the campaign and IAVA's community of veterans has already changed the lives of countless veterans.

But don't take my word for it.

According to Afghanistan veteran and IAVA community member Laurie Emmer, "For the longest [time] I felt like I was the only one going through things, but through this community I found otherwise. No matter what our deployment jobs, service or experiences were, we still share the places we went. Whether I am having a good day or a bad day I know this is the place I can come to for encouragement and support."

Whether it's amputees, folks struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Outdoor Enthusiasts, or just those looking to swap war stories, every vet can find a home in this virtual veterans' hall, and meet a group of folks that "has their back." With events like last week's unthinkable tragedy at Fort Hood, this dynamic community offers a safe place where veterans can go to find support, healing and conversations with other vets.

Please help us spread the word about this historic campaign and show new vets, like Todd Bowers, that America "has their back." On Veterans Day, sharing the ad with your friends, family members, and coworkers is an easy way for every American to do something to support our newest generation of veterans. With your help, we can make every day Veterans Day.


9 Comments

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Thanks, Paul.

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What struck me was the statement that he was on his fourth tour of overseas duty.

How many relatives, sons, daughters, grandsons, or granddaughters of our elected Representatives and Senators have even been there for a first tour?

As the people responsible for the continuation of these wars and tours of duty, it should be mandatory that their families take a significant part in these wars.

Remember, hiring mercenaries to fight your wars only leads to mercenaries taking over the government at the request of the olitician (dictator) willing to pay them the highest price.
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I don't know of anything worse for morale than constant re-deployment.

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E-VERIFY OVERTIME CAN REDUCE THE 20-30 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE BY "ATTRITION." WE DON'T NEED DEPORTATION ON A MASSIVE SCALE AS THEY WILL LEAVE ON THERE OWN. POLITICIANS CAN ADD AMENDMENTS TO THE 1986 IMMIGRATION BILL, INSTEAD OF THE TRAVESTY OF FORCING A NEW ONE ON THE FINANCIALLY HURTING AMERICAN PEOPLE?
Bloggers nationwide brought to the public attention the need to stop the infiltration of illegal immigrants in the workplace. Now the voice of --THE PEOPLE--are demanding sealing the borders tight and that every corrupt politician catering to corporate welfare--MUST GO, Starting with Sen.Harry Reid (D-NV) Special attention should be drawn to incorrigible governors, lawmakers, mayors judges and elected officials who have ordained policies of SANCTUARY STATES.

Hopefully E-Verify will become a nationwide vetting system to remove illegal workers from your office or from your factory? It has shown its efficiency, because the open border organizations have moved heaven and earth to smash it? Now it is firmly entrenched in every American workers mind, that it can save their jobs. Even Sen.Harry Reid, who tried to table E-Verify failed miserably and now, is funded for another 3 years. This gives reputable politicians time to make E-Verification mandatory as it’s been evaluated as a good immigration enforcement instrument and it could be introduced for other purposes. As a national legal people's identifier and combined with other data bases, it usages could be essential to recognize fraudulent drivers license, auto registration. Child support, health care and many other verifications of individual who think they are safe from government. But its main restrictions will to terminate foreign nationals appropriating US workers jobs.

In the future this data base could be established at airport terminals for departures and arrivals. It will be an ongoing fight against the opponents such as US chamber of Commerce, ACLU, Council of Foreign Relations, business organizations, agriculture and other groups. It is certain to be a bargaining chip in shoving through another Comprehensive Immigration Reform package, that will devastate America. An overflow of poor, uneducated humanity, looking for free health care will start pouring into our nation. Around the world rumors are already flying that if you slip across the sieve of a border, you can get work as low income and get all your taxes back by lying on the tax form. Tax credits for non-existent supported children is an industry, that costs the US taxpayer billions a year. If Napolitano thinks that --ALL--Democrats will accept another trillion dollar budget deficit, cause by a new BLANKET AMNESTY.

That bridge is still available in Brooklyn..? Very few Republicans will accept another AMNESTY? Not too much chance from Independents. Nor will legal immigrants or ethnic Americans who were born here, fought in four wars. Even people from South of the border are very reticent of allowing more people in, when there is 15 million unemployed. It means millions of low skilled workers would feel the crunch first, as already illegal immigrants who take their wages under the table, especially in Sanctuary States and undermine US labor?

I know quite a few Democrats who signed onto the Obama Presidency that will fight against any travesty called Comprehensive Immigration Reform? The one in 1986 was a complete disaster and unable to handle the sudden in surge of millions of more destitute people, thinking they were going to collect welfare? Our country is overrun with every conceivable crime, that includes murder, child and female violation, document fraud, transporting of illegal aliens, welfare fraud, house invasion, burglary, robbery, spousal abuse, gangs and other heinous activities The biggest scourge is drunken driving, which is killing and maiming citizens and residents on the highways and streets in rampant numbers. Go to THE DARK SIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION site for statistics. The doors to America are wide open, but nobody in their right mind is going to accept the first surge of 2-3 million coming from the South when they hear Lady Napolitano proclaiming a new AMNESTY? Those who believe in America’s survival, without OVERPOPULATION as stated by the US Census bureau better read facts, not the lies at NUMBERSUSA. Those who want details of corruption in WASHINGTON and state government go to JUDICIAL WATCH. Overpopulation, traffic hell should go to CAPSWEB. Other sites of interest on Immigration enforcement is ALIPAC and AMERICAN PATROL. We the people have the ultimate power to throw out anti-sovereignty incumbent politicians. Call and command these do-nothings to--STOP--this facade at 202-224-3121.

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