Ten years ago on September 11th, America changed forever…

Able Forces and Guts and Glory Motorsports will join together on September 11, 2011 to pay tribute to our Military, First Responders, and all who help preserve Americans Life and Liberty.  The event will be held at Grove’s Winchester Harley -Davidson, starting with a benefit motorcycle rally.  The 3 hour rally will travel from Winchester up to and around Harpers Ferry, then West towards Martinsburg featuring a slow roll through VA Medical Center-Martinsburg before returning to Grove’s.

Registration begins at 9AM for the 11AM departure of the ride. There will be Music from Nashville hosted by Singer/Songwriter Sam Tate, with Miss Guts and Glory Michelle Murray, Military Displays including the Mid-Atlantic Tribute Wall, food and fun for the entire family.

Skip Rogers, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Able Forces commented “It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since that terrible day.  Our event will focus on remembering all those that have given their lives, and all those that continue to put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect the freedoms Americans hold so dear.”

A major sponsor of the Ride a Mile for Able Forces event is Guts & Glory Motorsports.  Robert Swope, President, put it this way: “It is an honor and privilege to support Able Forces in their tribute to not only the men and women who sacrificed everything on that terrible date in 2001, but in their continuing efforts to ensure each and every soldier who gives of themselves in defense of our great country is cared for and supported after their service is over.  We look forward to a great ride, and an even greater day of fellowship.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit Able Forces mission of Employment and community-based job preparation training exclusively for Wounded Warriors and Disabled Veterans.  Able Forces is a veteran-owned 501c3 non-profit located in Front Royal, VA.

More information on this special family event can be found at www.Ableforces.org or by calling  540.631.9600.

Contact:

Skip Rogers

skip.rogers@ableforces.org

Executive Director

For the first time in many of their lives, more than 400 World War II soldier, airman, sailor, and marine veterans will visit Washington, DC. In their 80’s and 90’s, those to whom we owe so much will be welcomed by former Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole as well as other dignitaries at the Memorial that was dedicated to the millions who served and those who died during 1941-1945.

U.S. Airways is among the airlines that form the “Honor Flight Squadron” which began in May 2005. On Saturday, November 7 – just four days before Veterans Day – a total of seven flights will arrive in the Washington DC area with hundreds of WWII veterans who will spend the day, not only touring the WWII Memorial, but also the Vietnam and Korea Memorials and will see the changing of the guard at the Arlington National Cemetery. The veterans will then take flights home with memories that many have said they could not even have dreamed of before the trip.

Each of the morning flights, arriving in Washington DC, will be greeted by hundreds of volunteers, traveling passengers, music and, on Saturday, 20+ dancers wearing 1940’s dress doing the “Lindy-Hop” and “Jitter-Bug”, sopopular during the war. A motor cycle escort is planned to lead the buses on tour.

Those wanting to meet the flights will need to have a pass which can be obtained by contacting Carole Cloyd, US Air Service Manager, at 703-338-0838. For more information on the November 7 activities, contact John S. Lewandowski, at 540-877-1252, DVCH123@gmail.com

Background on “Honor Flight Network”

The Honor Flight Network program was conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. Earl wanted to honor the veterans he had taken care of for the past 27 years. After retiring from the Air Force in 1998, Earl was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. In May of 2004, the World War II Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington, D.C. and quickly became the topic of discussion among his World War II veteran patients.

Earl repeatedly asked these veterans if they would ever travel out to visit THEIR memorial. Most felt that eventually, somehow, they would make it to D.C., perhaps with a family member or friend.
As summer turned to fall and then winter, these same veterans returned to the clinic for their follow-up visits. Earl asked if they accomplished their dream of visiting the World War II Memorial.

By now, for most of the veterans he asked, reality had settled in; it was clear to most that it simply wasn’t financially or physically possible for them to make the journey. Most of these senior heroes were in their 80s and lacked the physical and mental wherewithal to complete a trip on their own. Families and friends also lacked the resources and time to complete the three to four day trip to the nation’s capital.

One of many questions that are always asked: Will some or many of the veterans will be in uniform? Well, many of the veterans try to wear their same uniform, but maybe over the years it just can’t be, but as many as possible will try to wear them, in hopes they will run into someone from their former unit.

The Disabled Veteran’s Committee on Housing assisted Lt. Moore with successfully planning all phases of the new home construction process: house design, financing, lot selection, application for and approval of VA and other grants, construction, etc. All of these steps were accomplished under the DVCH “One-Stop-Shop” new home case management approach.

For Lt. Moore and other disabled veterans having a new accessible and affordable home is a dream comes true. Unlike most Americans, our disabled veterans – who have given so much to keep America free – can not move around their homes freely, go from one room to another, and use the kitchen and bathroom. The things they once did are for so many out of reach because of the injuries they sustained serving our country. For many disabled veterans isolation and limited access in their homes ignites a sense of hopelessness and despair. Many feel forgotten, useless to themselves and their families. The DVCH has and is assisting many disabled veterans to dramatically improve the quality of life in their homes.

John S. Lewandowski, President of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) and a 100% disabled veteran, started the DVCH in 2008. Its mission is to: To assure that disabled veterans are able to obtain the
highest quality housing at affordable prices that meets theiraccessibility and mobility needs. The DVCH continues to grow with new disabled veterans learning about what the organization can do through caring, and that’s the key to the program – “CARING”.

We at the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing are holding the groundbreaking on October 29 to honor Lt. Moore, thank him for his distinguished service to America and to celebrate the beginning of this exciting new home construction project

Directions to the “Groundbreaking”

I-95 South to 288 North, go approx 15 miles and take 360/Hull St. West, go approx 4 miles and turn left at the light onto Winterpock Rd, go straight to the four way stop, take a right onto Beach Rd, go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Dry Creek Rd, go to the end of the rd. the lot is located on the cul-de-sac.

If anyone gets lost on the way, please call 540-379-3220, Rich Seely, Builder cell phone and he will direct you to the site.

About The Program:

The Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders Service at Hunter Homes McGuire Veterans Health Administration began operations in 1947 and is one of the 23 spinal cord injury centers in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center System.

The Service is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and affiliated with the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Model Spinal cord system. Richmond serves 14 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers across 10 states. We also receive patients from Department of Defense Medical Centers and private hospitals.

The Spinal Cord Injury & Disorder Service multidisciplinary teams provide lifetime care and coordination of medical and equipment needs for veterans with spinal cord injuries. The service is comprised of 80 inpatients beds, an outpatient clinic and a 20 bed lodger unit. Our service typically handles 500 admissions per year, provides rehabilitation services to approximately 35 newly injured veterans annually, and counts nearly 1,000 outpatient visits each year.

For patients with new injuries or new problem:

Diagnostic, surgical and early post-injury management is provided. Our rehabilitation program is designed to maximize physical and psychological independence. Beyond the rehabilitation phase, the team provides ongoing follow-up care including primary care; preventive care and specialty care in areas where spinal cord injured patients are prone to experience unique problems. Specialty care services are provided in the medical center for all medical and surgical sub specialties.

Richard (Rich) Seely Jr, Director, Home Construction & Designs for the DVCH

Richard (Rich) Seely Jr, Director, Home Construction & Designs for the DVCH spent the day bringing veterans and family members and visitor to the awareness and needs of the veteran especially in the home with Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorders.

SAM SCHMIDT’S PARALYSIS FOUNDATION: The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF funds its national Day at the Races program and quality of life grants to organizations throughout the country benefiting people with paralysis and other life challenges. It also provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries / paralysis.

The Foundation works tirelessly in its advocacy efforts both locally and nationally on behalf of the disabled.

For more information visit: www.samschmidt.org