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Vets eat free at Applebees on 11 Nov.

Yum!!

http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

Thank the Troops & First Responders Launch Event

The hottest ticket in town November 3rd is at the Sprint Store, 1208 18th St. NW Washington DC, from 3pm-6pm and at Public Bar (next door) from 6pm to 9pm!3pm to 6pm - Sprint Store, 1208 18th St. NW Washington DC Come get autographs from former Redskins and Super Bowl legends Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders, Rick “Doc” Walker, Daryl Grant, Dexter Manley, Ricky Ervins, and Andre Collins.

Show support for Sprint Federal and the official launch of their “Thank the Troops & First Responders” promotion. As Federal Government employees and Military members, Sprint offers you and your families 15% off new activations every day. However, this special promotion, which runs from Nov. 1st-Jan 9th, 2010, will not only offer you 15% off, it will include free activation AND a $25 credit on your first month’s bill. 6pm-9pm - Blackberry sponsored Post Event Party next door at Public.

Blackberry will also be raffling off phones and promoting their new buy one get one free offer through Sprint on all Blackberry Curves!! The who’s who of the Federal government and Military branches will be present. Stay after the main event and network at Public, where a suggested donation of $10 to Luke’s Wings charity at the door will be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!!
Raffle for free phones!!!
15% off new activations
Free Activation
$25 credit on your first month’s bill

United Thanks Our Troops

Special fares exclusively for our Armed Forces & family - extended through December 31, 2009!

United continues to support our Armed Forces and their eligible family members, by offering reduced domestic fares applying to U.S. point-of-sale only, for travel through December 31, 2009. These fares are for active-duty members of the Navy, Marines, Army, U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and the Reserves. In addition, your spouse and dependent children are also eligible.

To purchase contact United Reservations at 1-800-241-6522 and identify yourself as eligible for military fares. All passengers eligible for these and other military fares must carry proper identification. In markets where these fares apply, please use the "MIL" discount code. For identity verification purposes, these fares are not available on united.com.

For more details visit http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51098,00.html

MICROSOFT AND THE USO’S 2009 “A SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS” COMES TO D.C.

Program to Include Entertaining 8200 Troops with Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Partnering with Washington Capitals to Host 50 Wounded Warriors for Season Game

Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2009) -- Microsoft Corp.’s third annual A Salute to Our Troops program will take place in Washington, D.C. this fall, filled with multiple activities to brighten the season for U.S. troops and their families. The A Salute to our Troops program, founded in 2007 by Microsoft in cooperation with the USO of Metropolitan Washington and the USO of Metropolitan New York, is dedicated to showing Microsoft’s continued support of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Microsoft will kick-off the program on November 9th with an Operation USO Care Package Day with the NHL Washington Capitals Captain Chris Clark and Brian Pothier and WTOP 103.5 FM and Federal News 1500 AM Radio. Over 100 volunteers from Microsoft and local technology partners, WTOP 103.5 FM and Federal News 1500 AM Radio and the Washington Capitals will come together to prepare Care Packages for the troops who are serving overseas. The care packages will include Microsoft Zune trial Cards, prepaid international phone cards, sunscreen, travel size toiletries, lens wipe cloths, CDs, DVDs, playing cards, magazines, and personal messages of support from the donors and volunteers.

On Veteran’s Day, November 11th, Microsoft, and the NHL Washington Capitals, through the USO of Metropolitan Washington, will host more than 50 Wounded Warriors and their families to see the Caps take on the New York Islanders at the Verizon Center. At the game, the Washington Capitals will announce the Courage Caps program which will take place throughout the 2009-2010 season. The Courage Caps presented by Microsoft, will raise funds to help the courageous men and women who protect and defend our country, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington, a private, non-profit organization. Courage Caps and Courage T-Shirts will be available starting at online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Fan Gear store and stands throughout the Verizon Center.

On December 5th, design expert and on-air personality Kelley Moore will team up with Microsoft to give the Fisher House in Bethesda a holiday make-over. Kelley will make over the common areas of the facility to brighten the day and boost the morale of the troops and their families.

Finally, in keeping with the USO tradition of entertaining the troops, on Sunday, December 20th, Microsoft will treat 8,200 troops and their families to a private showing of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes at D.C.’s Verizon Center. Ticket information can be found at http://www.salutetoourtroops.org/

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

A Salute to Our Troops is a national program honoring the many faces of courage and inspiration belonging to individuals who demonstrate selfless dedication to our country.

About USO of Metropolitan Washington
USO-Metro is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is “Serving those who serve, and their families” in Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. With the help of over 5,500 dedicated volunteers, USO-Metro provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals; through its Mobile USO program; at three family support centers and four USO airport lounges.

ThanksUSA Gala

Yesterday was the Third Annual "Treasure Our Troops Gala" by ThanksUSA at The Newseum in Washington, DC. The event celebrated the awarding of scholarships to spouses and children of those serving in our nation’s armed services. The Gala was attended by Members of Congress, the Administration, corporate and community leaders, military personnel and scholarship recipients.

My friend Makeda Saggau-Sackey, editor-in-chief of the hit website "The Glamazon Diaries," got to meet General George Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army. Go Makeda!!

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Receives $3 Million Donation from TV Icon Bob Barker

Donation completes $60 million fundraising goal for TBI Center in Bethesda

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 7 -- The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) announced today that with the help of American TV icon Bob Barker, it has reached its goal of $60 million to complete its current project, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) suffered by U.S. military personnel.

The announcement comes after Mr. Barker, the long-time host of TV's "The Price is Right" and a Naval aviator who served during World War II, pledged to personally contribute the final $3 million needed for the construction aspect of the project. Additional funds will be raised for research and other related items.

"I am very happy to do whatever I can to support the brave men and women who have given so much in service to our nation," said Barker. "They have given so much for us; all Americans owe them a debt of gratitude for their tremendous service and sacrifice."

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has been fundraising for this project since late 2007, and in recent months, the Fund has pulled to within $3 million of the goal. While it has reached the $60 million goal, the Fund is still working to raise additional funds for research and other related efforts for wounded troops.

"This amazing gift puts us over the top," said Bill White, President of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. "Thousands of Americans have given to this important effort, and Bob Barker has today stepped up to the task. We are immensely grateful for his wonderful generosity and his support for our nation's servicemen and women."

"We have much more work to do to help our brave young men and women in uniform," said Richard T. Santulli, Chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. "But reaching our goal for NICoE is a great step forward in our mission."

NICoE, located in Bethesda, Maryland, adjacent to the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, will be the Department of Defense's premiere facility for the study of TBI, which according to some estimates afflicts more than 300,000 veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Set to open next year, NICoE will be a 72,000 square foot, two-story facility. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is building the Center and equipping it with the most advanced medical equipment for TBI research, diagnosis and treatment. Once complete, the Center will be turned over to the Department of Defense for operation.

About Bob Barker:

Bob Barker retired in 2007 from a long and notable career in television, hosting shows such as Truth or Consequences and, most famously, the Price is Right, which he helmed for 35 years. He has made numerous other television appearances throughout his 51-year career, including hosting The Rose Parade, The Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants for 21 years. He made his motion picture debut with Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore" in a comedy sequence that has become part of movie folklore. He is also well known as a leading supporter of animal rights.

About the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund:

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund was established in 2000 to provide financial support for the dependents of United States military personnel lost in performance of their duty. Originally operated as a program of the Intrepid Museum Foundation in New York City, the Fund was established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003. Through 2005, the Fund provided close to $20 million to families of United States military personnel lost in performance of their duty, mostly in service in Iraq and Afghanistan. In January 2007 after only 16 months of fundraising and with the generous support of over 600,000 Americans, the Fund completed construction of the Center for the Intrepid, a $55 million world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. This Center serves military personnel who have been catastrophically disabled in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and veterans severely injured in other operations and in the normal performance of their duty. In June 2008, ground was broken on the Fund's current project, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE).

SOURCE Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

(photo courtesy of AP)

Happy 234th Birthday, U.S. Navy!

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/featurePlay.asp?id=27

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Need a Mentor?

From http://www.academywomen.org/

eMentor Leadership Program

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches ... but to reveal to him his own. ~ Benjamin Disraeli

How important was the role of a mentor in shaping your life? Did you have a teacher, coach or colleague who made a dramatic impact on your personal or professional development? AcademyWomen believes that mentoring is a fundamental, irreplaceable factor in helping individuals develop exceptional skills, character and leadership capabilities. This perspective has led us to develop our eMentor Leadership Program, a cutting-edge mentoring program where Mentees receive guidance, career counseling and support from more experienced active duty and veteran women leaders.

AcademyWomen has also created the NavyWomen eMentor Leadership Program through a partnership with the Navy’s Office of Women’s Policy to support ALL uniformed women U.S. Naval personnel in achieving their full potential as leaders. The eMentor Leadership Program will be implemented through a state-of-the-art eMentor website which will pair Mentees with Mentors for one-one-one, email-based mentoring (e-mentoring) relationships. Visit the links to the left of this page to learn more about the eMentor program and find out ways you can get involved…today!

How it works:

Mentors and Mentees are matched through a state of the art virtual mentoring website:

Step 1: Mentors and Mentees complete an electronic profile which includes areas in which they desire guidance and/or are willing to give guidance.

Step 2: The Mentee completes an online mentor search and is presented with a list of mentor profiles that offer the closest match to her mentoring needs.

Step 3: The Mentee then chooses her preferred mentor from among the profiles. The Mentee has the option of immediately extending an invitation to possible Mentors to begin the mentoring relationship. Or, if desired, the Mentee can contact prospective Mentors for an informal “interview” before deciding to extend an invitation.

Step 4: The mentor pair establish goals, develop an action plan and are aided in measuring progress against stated objectives.

The relationship takes place over email although mentor pairs may choose to connect on the phone or meet in person. The relationship is supported with periodic email discussion topics, online training opportunities for Mentors and Mentees, and the availability of phone or online coaching on any aspect of mentoring. Sign-up today to become a Mentor and/or Mentee.

Travel for Troops

I got this notice from my Pentagon network:

Travel for our Troops - Save Time & Money by booking your next vacation or cruise through me or my site 50% of my commission will go to Supporting our US Military men & women. Trains, planes, car rentals, Vacation packages, Honeymoon packages, Cruises for groups, non-profits & couples.

www.dellastravels.com

Operation Rising Star

VIP SEATING AVAILABLE FOR OPERATION RISING STAR FINALS!

(The "American Idol" of the Army!)

Be part of the studio audience at the Wallace Theater, Fort Belvoir, VA this November.

Pick up a free reserved VIP ticket for one round or all four rounds of the Operation Rising Stars finals.

The finals will take place at on November 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th at 8 p.m.

FREE VIP tickets are available now… while they last at the following locations:
Fort Belvoir ITR
Pentagon ITR (Room 1D645, Pentagon)
Fort Myer ITR
Walter Reed ITR (Delano Hall Rm 1-123) At the GM Camero Display at
Fort Myer (Nov. 10-12) and at Fort Belvoir (Nov. 14, 19-20th)

SHOW SCHEDULE:

Saturday, November 14th @ 8 p.m. (90 minute show--finalists will go from 12 down to 6)

Monday, November 16th @ 8 p.m. (60 minute show--finalists will go from 6 down to 3) Meet the Washington Wizards Cheerleaders and the celebrity judges!

Wednesday, November 18th @ 8 p.m. (60 minute show--three finalists perform for the last time). Meet the "Sweethearts for Soldiers" (current and ex-NFL Cheerleaders) and the celebrity judges!

Friday, November 20th @ 8 p.m. (60 minute show - winners are revealed). Meet the Washington Wizards Cheerleaders! Special performance by Joyce Dodson, 2008 Operation Rising Star winner.

Be part of the live studio audience! Finals will be broadcast on the Pentagon Channel.

Celebrity Judges, Audience Prizes Nightly, Special Guest Appearances!
Win prizes! Gifts for first 75 VIP ticket holders each night.

If you miss out on a VIP ticket...don't worry! No tickets are required for general admission seating...and there are plenty of seats. Seating is on a first come first seated basis.

Doors for all performances will open at 7 p.m. Come early for a good seat! VIP ticket holders must be seated 15-minutes prior to the show start or seats will be released.

Semi Final Rounds
Saturday, November 14th
Monday, November 16th
Final Round
Wednesday, November 18th
Reveal of the Winners Show
Friday, November 20th

Pull-up Contest by VT Group Raises $3,375 for USO-Metro

Washington, D.C. – VT Group hosted “Pulling for the Troops” a pull-up contest that raised $3,375 to support USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) programs and services for troops and their families. The contest was held at VT Group’s booth during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference on October 5th and 6th. Conference participants were challenged to complete as many pull-ups as they could. With each pull-up, VT Group donated $2.50 to USO-Metro. A total of 1,350 pull-ups were completed.

Cheryl Hall, USO-Metro’s chief operating officer, accepted the check and thanked VT Group for their donation, “This was truly a creative and fun way to show support for our troops and their families. On behalf of USO-Metro I want to thank VT Group and all the participants who took the challenge.”

VT Group is a leading defense and support services company, providing engineering and other support services to governments and large organizations around the world. Primarily based in the United Kingdom and the United States, VT Group employs over 12,000 people and has doubled in size over the past five years.

Special Flight Request - Call to Action

Just received this -- this is what Luke's Wings is all about! Please help if you can.

Special Flight Request - Call to Action

Dear Luke's Wingers: Yesterday we received a request from a California family to visit a wounded warrior at Walter Reed. We are asking for your support to answer this request for travel. The soldier, Christian, was on patrol in Afghanistan with his team and with a team of Afghani security forces. They set up a perimeter for the night and hunkered down. While our heroes slept, one of the Afghans snuck up on them and opened fire with an AK47. It made the news at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP459159.htm

This incident occurred one week ago today. Christian was shot 2 times in his left leg. He was shot 2 times in his right leg. He had fluid in his lungs and possibly traumatic brain injury. They rushed him to Walter Reed for surgery and hopeful recovery. Please help us pay for Christian's family to come see him. It was only a week ago that he was shot and we want to put his father on a plane this weekend, and then fly his mother and three sisters as often as they'd like. Won't you help us with this special case? Please donate whatever you can right here on our cause page or on our website at www.lukeswings.org Thank you! The Team at Luke's Wings

Luke’s Wings provides travel planning, tickets and services to the families of wounded veterans hospitalized at the Army Medical Center.

Armed Forces Appreciation Day on CBS College Sports

Come on out to Public Bar to see your favorite military teams play ALL day today!! I'll be there hosting -- Go Navy! :)

CBS College Sports Network, the broadcast home of U.S. service academy football, will salute our nation’s Armed Forces and service academy football teams: Army, Navy and Air Force.

Coverage is highlighted by a tripleheader featuring each of the academies this Saturday, Oct. 10:•12:00 Vanderbilt at Army •3:30 Navy at Rice •7:30 TCU at Air Force Come out and support our troops and your academy or school.

Public Bar has graciously opened its doors to host this event and honor our heroes. Also see how you can get involved and help Luke’s Wings and Vet Tix; two wonderful charities that serve our Nation’s veterans!

http://www.lukeswings.org/
http://www.vettix.org/

Army’s flag and football will arrive from the Multi-National Corps-Iraq headquarters at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad. Navy’s football comes from the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz deployed in the Indian Ocean where it flew on a Navy combat mission over Afghanistan. Air Force’s flag and football began its journey to the game at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Special thanks to Formula Sports & Entertainment Group for arranging the viewing party!