® Volume 58 H May 2016 3URYLGLQJ(PHUJHQF\$LG WR7URRSV6HYHUHO\'LVDEOHG LQWKH:DURQ7HUURU Remember a Hero this Fourth of July It’s our privilege to share this special Especially on patriotic days like the Fourth of July Road to Recovery Report Fourth of July, our severely disabled It is people like you that lets me “ newsletter with you – a generous friend heroes are proud of their service. And know that there are mortal angels and a patriotic American who cherishes we’re proud to have the support of “ on this earth. I will never forget this day and honors the founding of our friends like you, and to do our part the kindness you have shown my great nation, just as we do. together to help our wounded warriors family and I. recover and rebuild after laying it all Inside your exclusive Road to on the line to defend us from radical — SFC Sylvester C., Recovery Report you’ll read stories of Islamic terrorists. Disabled Army veteran heroes you’ve already helped – and how grateful they are to be remembered by This Fourth of July, I hope you’ll generous Americans like you. I hope consider showing our heroes you you’re excited and encouraged to see remember and appreciate their service in how you are making a difference every a very practical way – with a special gift day in the lives of American heroes. for a disabled veteran who needs to know he or she isn’t in this struggle alone. Inside your Road to Recovery Report: Letter from President David Walker Heroes Thanking Heroes: You’re Helping: Here’s the Proof page 2 A One-of-a-Kind Program page 7 page 5 A Home for These Heroes You Showed Them You Remember … page 3 How You Can Leave a Legacy of Support page 8 page 6 &RDOLWLRQWR6DOXWH$PHULFD¶V+HURHV+32%R[+:DVKLQJWRQ'&+ZZZVDOXWHKHURHVRUJ+ 1020N-NW Letter from President David Walker Board of Directors David W. Walker President & Chief Executive Office Dear Friend of Our Wounded Heroes, LTC Thomas J. Orlowski U.S. Army (Ret.) As the Fourth of July approaches, the Coalition to Salute Chairman America’s Heroes continues the important work of providing Tom Sircher direct financial support to wounded veterans returning from the Director battlefield. As you know, these heroes often wait months to Bruce Kelly Secretary and Treasurer receive their government benefits – in the meantime struggling to Command Master Chief make the rent, cover the costs of medical care for their families, Stephen Page and put food on the table. U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Director With your help, the Coalition provides a variety of critical services to wounded Matt Cary Director veterans – helping them find new careers in the private sector, link up with other Colonel Charles Bogle wounded veterans who share their experience, and even find places to live. But providing U.S. Army (Ret.) immediate, direct financial aid to heroes disabled battling radical Islamic terrorism is our Ambassador Corps distinguishing characteristic that sets us apart from other veterans’ aid groups. Major General John K. Singlaub U.S. Army (Ret.) When I joined the Coalition in 2012, I immediately began a thorough top-to- Chairman bottom review of all of our activities with an eye to reducing overhead and directing a Master Sergeant Leroy Petry greater proportion of our resources to the wounded veterans we are here to help. U.S. Army (Ret.) Medal of Honor recipient Over the past four years, the dedicated Coalition team has taken this organization Senior Airman Daniel Acosta USAF (Ret.) to a new level. We operate with a lean budget and mind our spending carefully. In fact, Colonel Evan G. Miller many of our employees are themselves wounded veterans. And each and every one of U.S. Army (Ret.) us is motivated by a desire to help disabled veterans, not to enrich ourselves. Michael Meyer U.S. Army (Ret.) Since I assumed the helm, the Coalition has increased our direct giving by SFC Dana Bowman nearly $1 million a year, despite a decline in revenues. We’ve been able to do this by U.S. Army (Ret.) cutting back on administrative costs and achieving other efficiencies. Every day we are David Wetherell U.S. Army (Ret.) improving, and we are proud of how much we’ve achieved. (On page 7 you can read Jimmy Gunn an update with actual numbers – down to the penny – of how we’ve recently helped Entertainer some of our disabled heroes.) Jack Scalia Actor And sadly, the need for our work has not diminished. Daily news comes of Field Management Team more turbulence in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other nations in the grip of radical Islamic Donny Daughenbaugh terrorism. The steady stream of wounded Americans returning home continues U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) Vice President, Field Operations unabated. I fear this traffic will continue indefinitely. For as long as it does, we – with Jorge De Leon your help – will be there for our heroes in their hour of need. U.S. Army (Ret.) Field Representative, Southwest As we celebrate our nation’s birthday in a few weeks, I’m reminded just how proud Shilo Harris I am to be an American. Much of that pride I attribute to the determination and bravery U.S. Army (Ret.) of our men and women in uniform – heroes who believe America, and our principles of National Spokesperson Mary Jessie Herrera life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are worth losing limbs, leaving families, and U.S. Army (Ret.) upending their lives for. Field Representative, West Jil Hinds But there’s one more thing that makes me proud to be an American this Fourth U.S. Army (Ret.) of July – you. This Fourth of July, I’m honored to stand with friends like you – Field Representative, Southeast generous, caring Americans who would never let a hero’s service go forgotten on this Rob Jones U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) patriotic day. Field Representative Matthew Pennington With gratitude, U.S. Army (Ret.) Field Representative, East David Walker, President & CEO ® 2 Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes — Over a Decade of Service to Our War on Terror Heroes Your Coalition at Work Coalition Grant Helps Give Hero a Home, Independence rmy Sgt. Rob Easley three years of recovery, numerous first deployed to Iraq surgeries, and countless hours of Afor 14 months in 2008 intense physical therapy at Walter as an infantryman. Shortly Reed National Military Medical after deployment, Rob attended Center, Rob, together with his wife the yearlong school at Eglin Megan, is now on track to medically AFB, Florida to become an elite retire in 2016. Explosive Ordinance Disposal But Rob’s challenges are just (EOD) Technician. He was beginning. Without the use of his assigned to the 787th EOD unit, legs, Rob needs a special home out of Fort Lewis, Washington, and that is designed to accommodate in January 2012 his unit deployed his disability and give him the near Kandahar, Afghanistan. independence he desires. Rob and Rob was severely Megan are working with the Tunnel wounded in action on to Towers Foundation to build a October 15, 2012 when fully-accessible home in the Destin, he stepped on an IED Florida area, which will help Rob regain his independence, (Improvised Explosive and keep him close to family and the strong support system Device) while out on offered by the military’s EOD community. foot patrol. The blast Thanks to your generosity, the Coalition is resulted in the loss of proud to have made a $5,000 grant towards the both of his legs, leaving Easleys’ dream lot where they wish to build their Rob a bilateral above- forever home. It is our hope to help Rob regain knee amputee. his independence, as he and Meg continue their journey After more than of healing. Coalition Grant to HeroHomes to Honor, House Severely Disabled Veterans he Coalition was also privileged to make a at the West End Wine Bar in Purcellville, Virginia. $10,000 grant to the HeroHomes project – a new Representing the Coalition at the event was initiative to provide homes for disabled military T Sgt. Jorge De Leon, U.S. Army (Ret.). Jorge’s own veterans in the Loudoun County, Virginia area near home in Texas was built for his family by a similar Coalition headquarters. organization supporting wounded warriors – so he HeroHomes is led by Matt Lowers and Aimee knows firsthand the importance the independence a McGranahan, together with custom home-builder fully-accessible home can make to a disabled veteran. “I Jason Brownell, who want to put a local touch on efforts cannot explain how important it is to know that my wife to support those who lost limbs fighting overseas. The and kids will never be missing a roof over their heads,” project kicked off with a fundraiser reception in February he said. The Road to Recovery Report 3 Your Coalition in Action With Your Help, the Coalition is Committed to Doing All We Can to Change the Lives of Our Nation’s Severely Disabled War on Terror Veterans gonna happen! I live every day of my life with the injury Coalition grant supports disabled and it has caused a lot of damage since then but I keep going. heroes’ health and fitness I keep fighting and I keep serving as a positive role model for my wife and my two kids.” H H H H A great new way to connect with the Coalition re you listening to our radio program, Today’s American AVeteran, hosted by actor, Coalition friend, and veteran-supporter Jack Scalia? If you aren’t, you’re missing out! Recent guests have he Coalition recently provided a grant for the included award-winning sportscaster Jim Gray, 9/11 first- Adaptive Adventures Military Operations Program.