Message Center

The American Wartime Museum, a new national museum in the Washington, D.C. area, has announced its future location on a prime, 67-acre site at Interstate 95 in Prince William County, Virginia. This world-class museum will focus on the stories of American men and women who have served our country in uniform and on the home front from World War I forward.

Unique features of the American Wartime Museum will include authentic replicas of wartime scenes called “Landscapes of War,” operational tanks and aircraft, live-action demonstrations and interactive exhibits for the entire family. The museum will also house the National Veterans Visitor Center – a place where MOAA members can hold reunions, connect with other veterans and record their wartime stories.

Through its immersive experience, the American Wartime Museum will engage visitors in learning about their heritage, their freedom, and the sacrifices of millions of Americans – from veterans of all military branches, to POW/MIAs to those who supported the cause at home.

Initial site work for the museum begins this fall while the grand opening is planned for Veterans Day, November 11, 2014. To learn more about the American Wartime Museum, visit www.nmaw.org or email your story of service to info@nmaw.org.

The Department of Veteran Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration has announced its partnership with the Richmond International Raceway (RIR) and driver Landon Cassill during NASCAR Weekend featuring the Air Guard 400 and the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 on September 10th and 11th, 2010 in Richmond Virginia.

This partnership is part of a growing effort to ensure the nation’s Veterans and service members learn of the opportunities and benefits offered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

“The GI Bill has had a positive impact on a lot of people,” Cassill said. “I have a good friend who served in the military and he is currently using the GI Bill to get his education. In my outreach to family members to see if anyone was using the GI Bill, I actually educated a cousin who did not know he was eligible and is now looking into the benefits that he is entitled to. I can see how the GI Bill can affect someone’s life as it has for my friend. I am looking forward to helping get the word out and having a great run with the Post-9/11 GI Bill colors on our car at Richmond.”

About Race Weekend:

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Air Guard 400 will be held September 10 & 11th, 2010 at Richmond International Raceway, located at 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222. For tickets and directions visit the Richmond International Raceway website or call (866)455-7223

The Air Guard 400 from Richmond International Raceway will be televised live on ABC starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 11th.

In addition, “My Story”, a public awareness campaign featuring PSA’s that profile six Post-9/11GI Bill recipients, will be showcased. View the PSAs online!

Some really moving photos of our men and women in uniform – this is part of a continuing photo series at Boston.com.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Honestly, only one can encompass some of these images: wow.

Check out the rest of the series on their photoblog, The Big Picture.

In the newest special in Military Channel’s Coming Home initiative, original “horse whisperer” and American renaissance cowboy Monty Roberts works with three veterans of the Iraq war, each of whom suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The result is nothing short of magic.

Through an innovative yet experimental approach to coping with PTSD, Roberts shares his lifetime of experience and insight in non-violent training as he gently coaches each veteran to read the silent language of horses and reach the point of breakthrough, or “Join Up,” the moment at which a wild horse will trust and accept human contact. It is an emotional and striking metaphor for how these soldiers can work through and cope with their debilitating depression and anger. HORSE SENSE AND SOLDIERS premieres Sunday, September 19 at 10 PM on Military Channel.

“The impressive, unique work that Monty Roberts has pioneered, using untrained horses as a therapeutic tool for veterans who are trying to work through anger and depression is absolutely inspiring. We are honored that Monty and the veterans allowed us to document their deeply personal stories,” said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Military Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater. “All too often we forget about the after effects of combat and, accordingly, since Military Channel is the only destination dedicated to honoring the U.S. armed forces, we are proud to showcase this special as part of our ongoing salute to our returning troops.”

Each of the three remarkable veterans profiled has struggled as a result of the trauma of war and each is experiencing difficulties interacting with their loved ones and going about their daily lives. In HORSE SENSE AND SOLDIERS, Roberts, who holds one PhD in Human Psychology and another in Behavioral Sciences for both humans and animals, only has these United States Army and Marine veterans for four short days at his Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, Calif., where he demonstrates the deeply emotional healing power of establishing a trusting relationship with wild horses without the use of whips, restraints or physical violence.

Roberts uses his soft-spoken, nurturing style to show how to send signals through body language while interpreting silent messages from the horse establishing a trusting relationship that culminates in an affirming moment of partnership and trust between man and beast. After four transformational days, the soldiers ultimately better understand how to control their anger, confront painful memories, cope with real-life situations and move on with their lives and relationships.

This little tidbit comes to us from one of our former Webbies (and former SU grad, go figure).

In the world of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube (all of which you can find MOAA on, btw. Just sayin’.) you can get your news and information everywhere, at any time, in just about any way you want. This new project, News21, sounds pretty cool though, and is using some really innovative techniques to tell a story.

According to NPR:

News21 is a national project that encourages and supports new forms of investigative reporting and storytelling. The venture — funded by a Carnegie and Knight initiative — includes eight “incubator” universities, where students hone their reporting and digital skills in the classroom, then follow up with hands-on reporting in the field.

Pretty cool, right? Now check out the video by Juliette Lynch on the lives of veterans seeking solace after war. Very moving in its simplicity.

Juliette Lynch was part of the Syracuse University News21 team that went to Republic, Wash., for 6 1/2 weeks this summer to document the lives of veterans. The area is home to many vets who have purposely sought the isolation, peace and solitude of the remote landscape. Their stories are featured on the site — apartfromwar.org.

Video: Apart From War

Read more about the News21 project on NPR’s website, and see videos and projects by other students in the program.

I have the need, the need for speed! Yes, Top Gun is back. What is this, 1985? Anyway, Top Gun the movie gets a second go-’round…this time as a video game! Rad!

Top Gun will hit the PlayStation Network next Tuesday, August 17th. Check out the trailer for the launch!

Great for beauty products and now great for supporting our Guardmembers and Reservists! We love it!

In a ceremony at its New Jersey headquarters, L’Oréal USA received the “Above and Beyond Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense organization whose purpose is to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve components and their civilian employers. This award is given by both state and territory ESGR committees and recognizes those employers who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) for granting leave and providing support for military duty by employees.

L’Oréal USA was nominated for this prestigious award by Rodney Wong, Senior Systems Analyst in the Supply Chain & Finance department. Mr. Wong served a year with the New Jersey National Guard in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and 6 months state side supporting troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan missions.

During his time in Iraq, Mr. Wong also nominated his supervisor at the time, Rich Scuteri, for awards through the ESGR, the lead advocate within the Department of Defense for Reserve Component employers. Mr. Scuteri received the Patriot Award, honoring him personally for his superior support of Guard & Reserve employees. “It is an honor to receive this award. Rodney has proven himself to be a hard working dedicated member of the L’Oréal team,” said Mr. Scuteri.

L’Oréal is proud to have received this award and will continue to practice leadership in support of employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.

With Independence Day right around the corner, we thought this might be a welcome reprieve from the normal July 4th picnic music!

North Carolina native Jamie Tate originally wrote “I’ll Give My All” simply to show her support for our troops, but the song has since taken on a much bigger role. In fact, “I’ll Give My All” was chosen to become part of a national campaign to deliver one million free downloads of Jamie’s patriotic anthem to our troops stationed around the world. Every download will result in a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, the USO of North Carolina and the Military Family Lifestyle Charitable Foundation.

And, Jamie had some very special guests helping her record this special anthem – the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus. Once the world-renowned group from Fort Bragg heard her song, they offered to lend their services. The result is a stirring tribute to the sacrifice our men and women have made, and continue to make, every single day.

Check it out! And if you dig it, each purchase goes to a good cause!

WASHINGTON, DC – Xenophon’s Jason Killian Meath won the 2010 Military Channel Award at the GI Film Festival for his 2009 feature documentary “The Surge: The Untold Story,” which tells the story of the military surge in Iraq in 2007 and 2008.

“I am grateful that ‘The Surge’ was recognized by the GI Film Festival,” said Meath, who directed and co-wrote the film. “This documentary moves beyond Washington politics to tell the ground truth of a failing mission transformed into one of the most successful military operations in a generation of war fighting.”

“The Surge: The Untold Story” is the only documentary of its kind that offers a historical account of U.S. military operations in Iraq during the troop surges in 2007 and 2008. It is told through the eyes of top U.S. military commanders and includes never-before-seen interviews with military leaders such as General David Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The GI Film Festival is the nation’s first film festival to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the American Armed Forces through film. Of the 175 films submitted for this year’s festival, Meath’s film was among 35 that were chosen for screening during the event. It was introduced by General Jack Keane (U.S. Army, Ret.) and followed by a question-and-answer session between Meath and the audience.

“While I’m incredibly proud of ‘The Surge’ and the accolades it has received, the most important thing to remember about this movie is that it honors those in the American Armed Forces who serve and risk their lives for our country,” Meath said.

The documentary was produced by the Institute for the Study of War and funded by former Ambassador Marilyn Ware. It also won the Special Jury Award at the 2010 Worldfest – Houston International Film Festival.

Meath is an experienced advertising and political consultant with nearly two decades of senior level advertising and advocacy work. He recently joined Xenophon Strategies as the president of its new Advertising & Advocacy Practice, which will provide clients with strategic messaging and creative services for online, television, print, and radio advertising campaigns.

Dr. Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, was named as recipient of the 2010 American Patriot Award given by The National Defense University Foundation. Washington’s most powerful and influential leaders will gather to celebrate his lifetime of patriotism and to witness his receiving this prestigious award at the American Patriot Award Gala on Friday, November 5, 2010, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Secretary Gates will be recognized for his outstanding contributions to the intelligence, national security and defense communities throughout his impressive career in government.

Past recipients of the American Patriot Award include former President George H.W. Bush; General Colin Powell; Dr. Henry Kissinger; General David H. Petraeus, USA, and the Extraordinary Men and Women of CENTCOM; Senator Bob Dole; Senator John W. Warner and Representative Ike Skelton; Senators Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens; Astronaut and Senator John Glenn; former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger; and The Men and Women of our Nation’s Defense Team.

The American Patriot Award Gala is one of Washington, D.C.’s most illustrious events, attended by nearly 600 guests, including senior Administration officials, Members of Congress, senior military officials, Ambassadors, dignitaries, and corporate and community leaders.

Beyond honoring the recipients, the Gala showcases and supports the National Defense University and its crucial mission of preparing military and civilian leaders from the U.S. and other countries to examine national and international security challenges through multidisciplinary educational and research programs, professional exchanges, and outreach. It is the only university providing a common educational experience for all the various professional communities engaged in national security. The main campus is located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

“As a true patriot, Secretary Gates is most deserving of the National Defense University Foundation’s American Patriot Award because of his inspirational leadership and selfless dedication in serving our nation’s ideals, values and democratic principles,” said Brigadier General William J. Leszczynski, Jr., USA (Ret), President and CEO, National Defense University Foundation.