thedrifter
11-14-06, 01:52 PM
Press Release Source: California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
Medal of Honor Recipients and Disabled Vets Salute Active Duty Military and Civilians Who Support Them
Tuesday November 14, 12:00 pm ET
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The oldest living Medal of Honor holder, John Finn, 97, who earned the nation's highest award as a sailor with a machine gun at Pearl Harbor, saluted a group of sailors, marines and soldiers just back from Iraq. Jack Lucas, 78, who earned his Medal of Honor as a marine at Iwo Jima hugged an 18 year old reservist getting ready to go back for his second tour in combat. And so it went as four of the living 111 Medal of Honor holders joined 125 active duty troops and 100 disabled veterans along with some 200 business and community leaders at a Veterans Day breakfast hosted by the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance.
"California has 225,000 disabled veterans, more than any other state, and we have an obligation to "Keeping the Promise" to all of them whether it be with medical assistance, jobs or opportunities for their own small businesses," stated Don Gonneville, President of the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance.
The "Keeping the Promise" theme inspired a special Award for Patriotism by the Alliance given to Federal Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson, a marine who devoted decades to fighting homelessness among veterans and to Major General Doug Pearson (USAF-Ret.) now a Lockheed executive, who while commanding Edwards Air Force Base established strong ties with civilian law enforcement and community groups.
Also honored were California Highway Patrol Commissioner Mike Brown, a navy veteran, for "raising the bar in hiring large numbers of veterans at the CHP and Dennis Thurston of Southern California Edison who supports that company's veterans outreach program.
And, singled out for dedication to disabled vets was Lori Okamoto of the State of California and State Senator Dean Florez who sponsored legislation assisting disabled veteran owned companies in California.
Steve Blankenship, an American Airlines captain who was flying on 9/11 and is now part of the management team at American Airlines, was a special guest speaker and focused on the debt owed those who are "currently in harms way and those who have been there for this country." Blankenship had 21 years active duty before becoming an American Airlines pilot. The carrier, most of whose pilots are veterans, was the lead sponsor for the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance event.
Celebrities and VIPs ranging from LA County Sheriff Lee Baca to Tommy Lasorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization joined actress Connie Stevens and actors Jack Scalia, Richard Tyson, Shelly Berman, James Avery and Charles Durning in saluting the troops on hand and the disabled veterans who attended. Durning earned three purple hearts and the Silver Star during World War II when he was part of the Normandy landing and fought at Omaha Beach.
The tone of the meeting was best summed up by Lasorda who told the group that "America cannot and will not lose because of the dedication of those who have served and those who serve today."
Contact:
California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
Rich Dryden, 916-446-3510
Source: California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
Ellie
Medal of Honor Recipients and Disabled Vets Salute Active Duty Military and Civilians Who Support Them
Tuesday November 14, 12:00 pm ET
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The oldest living Medal of Honor holder, John Finn, 97, who earned the nation's highest award as a sailor with a machine gun at Pearl Harbor, saluted a group of sailors, marines and soldiers just back from Iraq. Jack Lucas, 78, who earned his Medal of Honor as a marine at Iwo Jima hugged an 18 year old reservist getting ready to go back for his second tour in combat. And so it went as four of the living 111 Medal of Honor holders joined 125 active duty troops and 100 disabled veterans along with some 200 business and community leaders at a Veterans Day breakfast hosted by the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance.
"California has 225,000 disabled veterans, more than any other state, and we have an obligation to "Keeping the Promise" to all of them whether it be with medical assistance, jobs or opportunities for their own small businesses," stated Don Gonneville, President of the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance.
The "Keeping the Promise" theme inspired a special Award for Patriotism by the Alliance given to Federal Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson, a marine who devoted decades to fighting homelessness among veterans and to Major General Doug Pearson (USAF-Ret.) now a Lockheed executive, who while commanding Edwards Air Force Base established strong ties with civilian law enforcement and community groups.
Also honored were California Highway Patrol Commissioner Mike Brown, a navy veteran, for "raising the bar in hiring large numbers of veterans at the CHP and Dennis Thurston of Southern California Edison who supports that company's veterans outreach program.
And, singled out for dedication to disabled vets was Lori Okamoto of the State of California and State Senator Dean Florez who sponsored legislation assisting disabled veteran owned companies in California.
Steve Blankenship, an American Airlines captain who was flying on 9/11 and is now part of the management team at American Airlines, was a special guest speaker and focused on the debt owed those who are "currently in harms way and those who have been there for this country." Blankenship had 21 years active duty before becoming an American Airlines pilot. The carrier, most of whose pilots are veterans, was the lead sponsor for the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance event.
Celebrities and VIPs ranging from LA County Sheriff Lee Baca to Tommy Lasorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization joined actress Connie Stevens and actors Jack Scalia, Richard Tyson, Shelly Berman, James Avery and Charles Durning in saluting the troops on hand and the disabled veterans who attended. Durning earned three purple hearts and the Silver Star during World War II when he was part of the Normandy landing and fought at Omaha Beach.
The tone of the meeting was best summed up by Lasorda who told the group that "America cannot and will not lose because of the dedication of those who have served and those who serve today."
Contact:
California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
Rich Dryden, 916-446-3510
Source: California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance
Ellie