Tag Archives: families

Families of Fallen Heroes are Honored and Celebrated at Miss America 2012

Posted on by Mike

Warrior Gateway is a proud sponsor of the 19 wives, daughters, and mothers of fallen service members to be recognized as Honorary Miss America’s at the 2012 Miss America Crown Celebration and who will be VIP guests at the Saturday night Miss America Finals.

Las Vegas, NV January 13, 2012

For the third year in a row, Project Gratitude brings 19 families of fallen service members to Las Vegas to be recognized as “Honorary Miss Americas” at the 2012 Miss America Crown Celebration on Friday, January 13. For the grand finale, the families will watch the Miss America pageant (live on ABC 6 PM PST) Saturday night from their VIP seats.

“Warrior Gateway is honored to be a sponsor of Project Gratitude in supporting the wives, daughters and mothers of our fallen military members. Initiatives such as Project Gratitude show how communities across the nation can step up to work together and support the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. As the Project Gratitude sponsor for the Miss America Crown Celebration Gala, we are proud to join these families of our fallen in Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant,” said Devin B. Holmes, CEO of Warrior Gateway. “Warrior Gateway remains committed to supporting all members of the military community as they return home and seek out their new normal life.”

“Got Your Back Network is pleased to partner with the Miss America Organization to provide a very unique and “once in a lifetime” experience for surviving wives and their daughters. Shared experiences are the highlight of memories and we are happy to be able to plan, organize and implement the Project Gratitude event.” said Kathleen Gagg, Executive Director of Got Your Back Network. “We thank all volunteers, contributors and organizations that have made Project Gratitude possible.”

“We started Project Gratitude out of a deep, heartfelt sense of gratitude and highest respect for the ultimate sacrifice that was made by our nation’s fallen heroes and their families,” explains Sharlene Hawkes, former Miss America and President of Remember My Service Productions. “By recognizing each of the women and their daughters as honorary Miss Americas–and giving them the VIP experience that Miss Americas have received over the years–it is just our way of doing what we can to pay tribute to these great Americans.”

See press release on PR Web at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9107694.htm

For more information about the event, please visit the Warrior Gateway Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/warriorgateway

For real-time event updates and photos, please follow Warrior Gateway on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/warriorgateway

 

Chili Cook-Off to Benefit Warrior Gateway

Posted on by Mike

Warrior Gateway is honored to be the benefiting charity for the “Annual DC Wild Card Chili Cook Off” in Washington, D.C. on January 7th, 2012.  Starting on the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, chili and football fanatics can gather at the Union Pub, eat chili, watch football; all for a great cause.  Building off a great event last year, this year will have more chili contestants and even more drink specials.  Again, all proceeds will go to Warrior Gateway, to help our mission of connecting military, veterans, and their families to the resources and information they need.  Tweet this, post on your Facebook, tell your friends!

Where: Union Pub, Washington, D.C

When: January 7, 2012 4pm-8pm

RSVP to the event by visiting the Cook-Off Facebook page.

Social Media

Follow the Chili Cook-Off live on Twitter by following: @DC_Chili and searching #DCChili

Retweet this message to help spread the word: Please attend 2nd Annual Wild Card Chili Cook-Off on Sat. Your $10 supports @WarriorGateway: http://ow.ly/8jmGV #veterans


Like Chili and Football? Cook-Off will benefit military, veterans, and their families. Learn more: http://ow.ly/82CyR @WarriorGateway

Warrior Gateway Helps Connect Military and Civilian Communities During Veterans Day Events

Posted on by Mike

Warrior Gateway partnered with ServiceNation and local organizations to host three of the eleven 11/11/11 Mission Serve projects nationwide.  The projects brought together the civilian and military communities through volunteerism and service.  Celebrities, professional sports teams, and others helped make these 11 nationwide projects memorable.  Members of the Warrior Gateway team helped coordinate and host projects in Seattle, Tucson, and Denver.  All three events were a great success; with volunteers of all ages and background joining together for a day of service.  The purpose of these events coincide directly with the mission at Warrior Gateway: connecting the military community and their families to meaningful resources in their local communities.  Helping the military community connect with their local community is essential for a successful transition.  The Warrior Gateway team was honored to partner with ServiceNation and others for these signature events.

Tucson, Arizona

The Tucson project brought together the civilian community, military and vetereans alike.  Volunteers gathered at Tucson Mountain Park to perform various community services including buffel grass removal, trail work, litter clean-up and mural painting.  ”I couldn’t imagine a better turnout for Tucson,” said Tabitha Cooper, Community Partnership Manager at Warrior Gateway, and coordinator of the event. “I saw veterans, active duty service members and civilians working together as a whole; serving alongside one another to better our community.  It was truly a beautiful event and I cherish days like this.”  Tabitha’s husband currently serves in Afghanistan, which makes events such as this close to her heart.  Photos from the event.

Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, Warrior Gateway joined Veterans Conservation Corps, and the Sierra Club for the second annual Veterans Day at Hamm Creek Estuary event.  For the past two decades Hamm Creek has been transformed into a more natural setting, in addition it has been a focal point in veteran healing and transition.  Volunteers showed up in great numbers, despite a steady rainfall in Seattle.  A little damp weather did not deter members of the military community, veterans, and civilians to join together for a morning of beautifying the already stunning Hamm Creek Estuary.  ”It was an honor to be involved with a project such as this on Veterans Day,” said Mike Broom, Marketing Manager at Warrior Gateway.  ”Seeing the multitude of volunteers come together, both military and civilian, and work side by side despite rainy weather was an amazing experience.  Weather could not put a damper on the dedication and strength of those in attendance.”  Photos from the event.

Denver, Colorado

The third event featured volunteers from all backgrounds (active duty, veterans, military families, civilians) come together to clean up the Cherry Creek Trail in Denver.  Volunteers helped Denver Parks by collecting over 20 bags of debris along the trail, replacing wire around trees, and painting a bridge.  ”As coordinator for the event, it was wonderful to see relationships being built during the three-hour service project at Cherry Creek,” said Nathalia Magri, Community Partnership Manager at Warrior Gateway.  ”By the end of the day everyone was exchanging contact information, and the non-profits involved had a chance to inform those in attendance of their services offered.”  Photos from the event.

Please check out all of the photos from the event on our Facebook page.  Share with others, and share with us what you think!

Warrior Gateway Partnering With ServiceNation For Veterans Day Service Projects Nationwide

Posted on by Mike

Warrior Gateway is honored to partner with ServiceNation and others for 11/11/11 service projects nationwide.  As a part of ServiceNation Mission Serve initiative, 11 major U.S. cities will host 11 large scale service events on Veterans Day.  These events will bring together the civilian and military communities through service and volunteerism.

Members of the Warrior Gateway team will be helping host 3 of the 11 service projects in: Denver, Tucson, and Seattle.  Leading the coalition of local partners, Warrior Gateway is excited to help connect the civilian and military communities, which is an essential part of successful transitions for our veterans and their families.

Check out more information on each of the 3 projects below.  To see all 11 of the ServiceNation Mission Serve 11/11/11 events, click here.

Help share these opportunities with your friends, and spread the word on Twitter and Facebook.  Lets make this Veterans Day a memorable one nationwide!

 

Seattle, WA – See event flyer

On 11/11/11, join the Veterans Conservation Corps, the Sierra Club, Warrior Gateway and Service Nation for the second annual Veterans Day at Hamm Creek Estuary event.  For the past two decades Hamm Creek has been transformed into a more natural setting, in addition it has been a focal point in veteran healing and transition.    Today Hamm Creek is home to several species of wildlife including Beaver, Bald eagle, Osprey, and Salmon.  Hamm Creek Estuary embodies the struggles veterans face in their transition into civilian life and the promise of a better tomorrow through hard work, perseverance and teamwork.  Through this project we hope to build a stronger community, one blackberry and one volunteer at a time.  Anyone is welcome to join us beginning at 10am, with work starting at 11.

When: Friday, November 11, 2011 ~ 10 am

Where: 10000 W. Marginal Pl S.Seattle WA, 98108

 

Denver, CO – See event flyer

ServiceNation is proud to join Warrior Gateway, Sierra Club, Veterans Green Jobs, Phoenix Multisport, Colorado Hire Patriots, and Denver Parks and Recreation in a signature community service project that will allow the civilian and military communities of the Greater Denver Area to come together through shared service.  Volunteers will participate in debris removal and park restorations along one of the most visited trails in Denver – Cherry Creek Trail.

FREE MEAL FROM CHIPOTLE TO ALL VOLUNTEERS!

When: Friday, November 11, 2011 ~ 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where: Cherry Creek Trail Meet up location: Behind Cherry Creek Mall (Bed, Bath & Beyond)

 

Tucson, AZ – See event flyer

In Tucson, Arizona, ServiceNation is pleased to partner with Southwest Conservation Corps, REI, Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation, and Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute for a signature project.  ServiceNation is proud to join host a project on our local public land Tucson Mountain Park that will allow the civilian and military communities to come together through shared service.  SCC will host 50-100 volunteers from Tucson, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huacachua, and Pima County employees to work on trails in Tucson Mountain Park west of Tucson.  Volunteers will participate in four projects:  Trailwork, buffelgrass removal, painting, litter pick-up of area recreation sites and trails.

When: Friday, November 11, 2011 ~ 8:00am to 1:00pm

Where: Tucson Mountain Park, Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute

 

 

Sea of Goodwill Series: Navigating the Sea of Goodwill

Posted on by Devin

This week’s guest blogger is Bill Salesky, a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton and an enlisted member of the Air Force Reserve. In this blog, Bill shares his thoughts on the resources needed for the transition home.

Like many other Americans, I know those who have been deployed overseas – they are friends; they are classmates; they are colleagues.  One needs only turn on the television or read a newspaper to see the stories about service men and women on their second or third tour of duty.  Some are active duty, some are reservists like me, and some are National Guard.  What they all have in common is that they left their families and “normal lives” for months at a time to answer America’s call to duty.

Upon their return, veterans and their families have a variety of needs as they work to re-integrate into each local community.  The navigation of the 400,000 nationwide organizations supporting and providing resources to the veteran community is no simple task.  An example of how overwhelming it can be to find a specific resource across the extensive amount of resources can be illustrated through a veteran’s search of the phrase “post traumatic stress disorder.”  This disorder is one of the more common afflictions after military service abroad.  This key phrase yields over 5 million results and does not quickly get the veteran to the answers or resources he/she needs.

To better support our veterans and their families, it is imperative to have a platform dedicated to nothing more than navigating the vast array of resources and services available to their needs.  There needs to be one additional resource which is the connection and portal to link the other 400,000 resources while addressing the needs of the veteran community.

Bill Salesky

Sr. Airman, U.S. Air Force Reserve


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