Press Release
American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) and Sands Resorts Donate TWO HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTERS
Dec/21/2009 08:00
American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) and Sands Resorts Donate TWO HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTERS
Operation Gratitude Sends TWIN Milestone 500,000th Packages
Van Nuys, CA - December 21, 2009 - With the classic roar of freedom catching their attention, more than 1200 Operation Gratitude volunteers witnessed the presentation of the organization's historic 500,000th care package, as a custom motorcycle drove onto the Armory Drill floor carrying the keys to TWO Harley Davidson Sportsters. The keys, along with several other unique gifts, were added to Operation Gratitude care packages, to be delivered to two U.S. Service Members serving in the harshest combat zones overseas.
Co-founders Carolyn Blashek and SSG Elizabeth Cowie, who started the organization in 2003, thanked AVTT and Sands Resorts for their generous donation of the Sportsters, and recognized the tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters who have contributed throughout the years to the assembly and shipment of half a million care packages.
"The 500,000 care packages we have sent are an expression of our enormous respect and appreciation for those who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to protect our freedom," exclaimed Blashek. "How totally appropriate that today we are sending a classic American symbol of freedom--Harley Davidson Motorcycles--to two of our bravest warriors, both of whom have served multiple tours of combat duty."
"AVTT's mission is to honor, respect and remember those who served and thus those who are serving," said Don Allen, founder of AVTT, donor of one of the Bikes. "The occasion of Operation Gratitude's 500,000th Care Package is a perfect opportunity to ensure that our message of support and gratitude is seen and heard by our Military around the world."
Lee Rawcliffe, President and CEO of Sands Resorts, and donor of the second Sportster noted: "This exciting 500,000th package event represents a celebration of all the brave Americans who wear the uniform of our great nation. We are honored to put 2 very special packages in the hands of two different service members who represent our courageous heroes-- past, present and future--from all branches of the Military."
Special deliveries of the matching Half Millionth Packages are being arranged.
Blashek and Cowie informed the energetic crowd that the 500,000th package represented:
Operation Gratitude Sends TWIN Milestone 500,000th Packages
Van Nuys, CA - December 21, 2009 - With the classic roar of freedom catching their attention, more than 1200 Operation Gratitude volunteers witnessed the presentation of the organization's historic 500,000th care package, as a custom motorcycle drove onto the Armory Drill floor carrying the keys to TWO Harley Davidson Sportsters. The keys, along with several other unique gifts, were added to Operation Gratitude care packages, to be delivered to two U.S. Service Members serving in the harshest combat zones overseas.
Co-founders Carolyn Blashek and SSG Elizabeth Cowie, who started the organization in 2003, thanked AVTT and Sands Resorts for their generous donation of the Sportsters, and recognized the tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters who have contributed throughout the years to the assembly and shipment of half a million care packages.
"The 500,000 care packages we have sent are an expression of our enormous respect and appreciation for those who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to protect our freedom," exclaimed Blashek. "How totally appropriate that today we are sending a classic American symbol of freedom--Harley Davidson Motorcycles--to two of our bravest warriors, both of whom have served multiple tours of combat duty."
"AVTT's mission is to honor, respect and remember those who served and thus those who are serving," said Don Allen, founder of AVTT, donor of one of the Bikes. "The occasion of Operation Gratitude's 500,000th Care Package is a perfect opportunity to ensure that our message of support and gratitude is seen and heard by our Military around the world."
Lee Rawcliffe, President and CEO of Sands Resorts, and donor of the second Sportster noted: "This exciting 500,000th package event represents a celebration of all the brave Americans who wear the uniform of our great nation. We are honored to put 2 very special packages in the hands of two different service members who represent our courageous heroes-- past, present and future--from all branches of the Military."
Special deliveries of the matching Half Millionth Packages are being arranged.
Blashek and Cowie informed the energetic crowd that the 500,000th package represented:
- 4 Million pounds of product
- $5.5 Million of postage
- 25 Million individual items
- $50 Million worth of product
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Arrives in Van Nuys - Free Event Honors Veterans and All Who Serve
Oct/21/2009 08:00
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Arrives in Van Nuys - Free Event Honors Veterans and All Who Serve
Release Date: 10/21/2009
Contacts:
Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude
Phone: 818.789.0123, Cell: 818.406.5057
OpGrat@gmail.com
Don Allen, AVTT
Phone: 507-380-2465, donallen@avtt.org
For Immediate Release
Van Nuys, CA - October 14, 2009 - An 85 year old Veteran of three Wars will be the guest of honor at the Operation Gratitude-American Veterans Traveling Tribute Event this week: October 14-18 at the corner of Victory and Louise in Van Nuys.
MSGT (ret.) Edward Chema of Chatsworth, CA, served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. Fewer than 500 "Three-War American Veterans" are still alive today. MSGT. Chema will join Veteran and legendary Los Angeles TV Reporter, Stan Chambers, along with Veterans representing all conflicts from World War II through the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a Candlelighting Ceremony at 5:00 pm on Thursday October 15 at the Exhibit site. Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Swimming, John Naber will emcee the Ceremony, which will also include the laying of wreaths by Gold and Blue Star Mothers and by POW-MIA Son and Grandson, Bob and RC Ramsay.
Major General John Harrell, Commander of the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base will speak at the Memorial Service on Sunday at 11:00am. MSGT (ret.) Chema will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the "Ventura Girlz" will perform the National Anthem, followed by a Condor Fly-Over and a Parade of Honor past The Wall.
Operation Gratitude (www.OperationGratitude.com ) is partnering with The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (www.avtt.org) to present this free and unique opportunity for the Southern California community to pay respect to America's fallen heroes and at the same time express appreciation to our warriors currently serving in harm's way.
From October 14-18, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute will be on display in the large lot adjacent to the National Guard Armory at the corner of Victory and Louise in Van Nuys. The AVTT Exhibit includes a September 11 tribute, a Cost of Freedom display of Gold Dog Tags (identifying each service member killed since Vietnam), and the centerpiece of the exhibit: An exact replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall (80% scale), displaying all 58,253 names of the men and women killed in the Vietnam War.
The entire event will be free to the public. All ages are invited and encouraged to attend this first-ever display of The AVTT Exhibit in Southern California.
Operation Gratitude volunteer activities will occur simultaneously inside the Armory in preparation for the assembly and shipment of Holiday packages the following weekend. AVTT Exhibit attendees (ages 12 and older) are invited to participate in all Operation Gratitude Prep and Assembly activities in the Armory.
Operation Gratitude will provide letter writing materials for children and adults to express their appreciation to Service Members deployed overseas during the Holidays. Snacks, volunteer information and scarf-making lessons will also be available at the Operation Gratitude tables at The Exhibit site.
Girl Scouts will be offering Trophy Nuts for donation to our troops through the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Gift of Caring Program.
WHAT:
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Exhibit Hosted by Operation Gratitude
WHEN :
Wednesday October 14: RAIN OR SHINE: Motorcade Escort of The Traveling Wall
4:00pm: Muster at Airtel Plaza Hotel at 7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys
5:30pm: Color Guard and Greetings; Condor Fly-Over (weather permitting)
Guest: Mitchell Englander, Chief of Staff for Councilman Greig Smith
6:00pm: Motorcade Departs for Exhibit Site led by Grand Marshall Stan Chambers
Thursday October 15:
9am-Noon: Volunteers Set up Exhibit
Noon-5pm: Open viewing
5pm-7pm: Opening Ceremony with Candle Lighting, Laying of Wreaths
Hosted by 4-Time Olympic Gold Medalist in Swimming: John Naber
Guests: City Councilmen Greig Smith, Tony Cardenas and Dennis Zine
Speaker: Stan Chambers
Friday October 16: Open 8am-8pm
9am-3pm: School Visits
11am-1pm: Share Your Lunchbreak with KKGO Country's Morning Co-Host Ashley Paige
3pm-8pm: Open Viewing
Saturday October 17: Family Day
8am-8pm: Musical Performances
12-3pm: Kogi BBQ Truck and Get Shaved Ice
1pm: Color Guard and Formal Greeting
Guests: City Controller Wendy Greuel, Gold Star Wives
Sunday October 18: Open 8am-6pm
11am: Memorial Service officiated by Rabbi Mordecai Finley of Ohr Hatorah Synagogue and Pastor Glen Kreun of Saddleback Church
Guests: Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, Stan Chambers
Speaker: Major General John Harrell
Condor Flyover
12 Noon: Parade of Honor Past The Wall
1pm-6pm: Open Viewing
WHERE:
17330 Victory Boulevard: Van Nuys, CA 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise
Parking next door at the Skate Park and Encino Farmer's Market from 12 Noon-8 pm daily
Additional parking available at Birmingham High School
Handicapped parking available in the National Guard Armory Parking Lot
For more information about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute: www.avtt.org
For more information about Operation Gratitude:
www.OperationGratitude.com
For more information about the Operation Gratitude-AVTT Event:
OpGrat@gmail.com or ptmarty@aol.com
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude ( www.OperationGratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and on Naval ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$100 and costs the organization $11 to assemble and ship. By the end of 2009, Operation Gratitude will have shipped more than 500,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.
About American Veterans Traveling Tribute ("AVTT")
AVTT (www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their lives for our country's freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten. AVTT is funded through sponsorship fees, donations, and sale of merchandise at events.
Release Date: 10/21/2009
Contacts:
Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude
Phone: 818.789.0123, Cell: 818.406.5057
OpGrat@gmail.com
Don Allen, AVTT
Phone: 507-380-2465, donallen@avtt.org
For Immediate Release
Van Nuys, CA - October 14, 2009 - An 85 year old Veteran of three Wars will be the guest of honor at the Operation Gratitude-American Veterans Traveling Tribute Event this week: October 14-18 at the corner of Victory and Louise in Van Nuys.
MSGT (ret.) Edward Chema of Chatsworth, CA, served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. Fewer than 500 "Three-War American Veterans" are still alive today. MSGT. Chema will join Veteran and legendary Los Angeles TV Reporter, Stan Chambers, along with Veterans representing all conflicts from World War II through the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a Candlelighting Ceremony at 5:00 pm on Thursday October 15 at the Exhibit site. Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Swimming, John Naber will emcee the Ceremony, which will also include the laying of wreaths by Gold and Blue Star Mothers and by POW-MIA Son and Grandson, Bob and RC Ramsay.
Major General John Harrell, Commander of the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base will speak at the Memorial Service on Sunday at 11:00am. MSGT (ret.) Chema will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the "Ventura Girlz" will perform the National Anthem, followed by a Condor Fly-Over and a Parade of Honor past The Wall.
Operation Gratitude (www.OperationGratitude.com ) is partnering with The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (www.avtt.org) to present this free and unique opportunity for the Southern California community to pay respect to America's fallen heroes and at the same time express appreciation to our warriors currently serving in harm's way.
From October 14-18, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute will be on display in the large lot adjacent to the National Guard Armory at the corner of Victory and Louise in Van Nuys. The AVTT Exhibit includes a September 11 tribute, a Cost of Freedom display of Gold Dog Tags (identifying each service member killed since Vietnam), and the centerpiece of the exhibit: An exact replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall (80% scale), displaying all 58,253 names of the men and women killed in the Vietnam War.
The entire event will be free to the public. All ages are invited and encouraged to attend this first-ever display of The AVTT Exhibit in Southern California.
Operation Gratitude volunteer activities will occur simultaneously inside the Armory in preparation for the assembly and shipment of Holiday packages the following weekend. AVTT Exhibit attendees (ages 12 and older) are invited to participate in all Operation Gratitude Prep and Assembly activities in the Armory.
Operation Gratitude will provide letter writing materials for children and adults to express their appreciation to Service Members deployed overseas during the Holidays. Snacks, volunteer information and scarf-making lessons will also be available at the Operation Gratitude tables at The Exhibit site.
Girl Scouts will be offering Trophy Nuts for donation to our troops through the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Gift of Caring Program.
WHAT:
American Veterans Traveling Tribute Exhibit Hosted by Operation Gratitude
WHEN :
Wednesday October 14: RAIN OR SHINE: Motorcade Escort of The Traveling Wall
4:00pm: Muster at Airtel Plaza Hotel at 7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys
5:30pm: Color Guard and Greetings; Condor Fly-Over (weather permitting)
Guest: Mitchell Englander, Chief of Staff for Councilman Greig Smith
6:00pm: Motorcade Departs for Exhibit Site led by Grand Marshall Stan Chambers
Thursday October 15:
9am-Noon: Volunteers Set up Exhibit
Noon-5pm: Open viewing
5pm-7pm: Opening Ceremony with Candle Lighting, Laying of Wreaths
Hosted by 4-Time Olympic Gold Medalist in Swimming: John Naber
Guests: City Councilmen Greig Smith, Tony Cardenas and Dennis Zine
Speaker: Stan Chambers
Friday October 16: Open 8am-8pm
9am-3pm: School Visits
11am-1pm: Share Your Lunchbreak with KKGO Country's Morning Co-Host Ashley Paige
3pm-8pm: Open Viewing
Saturday October 17: Family Day
8am-8pm: Musical Performances
12-3pm: Kogi BBQ Truck and Get Shaved Ice
1pm: Color Guard and Formal Greeting
Guests: City Controller Wendy Greuel, Gold Star Wives
Sunday October 18: Open 8am-6pm
11am: Memorial Service officiated by Rabbi Mordecai Finley of Ohr Hatorah Synagogue and Pastor Glen Kreun of Saddleback Church
Guests: Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, Stan Chambers
Speaker: Major General John Harrell
Condor Flyover
12 Noon: Parade of Honor Past The Wall
1pm-6pm: Open Viewing
WHERE:
17330 Victory Boulevard: Van Nuys, CA 91406
Corner of Victory and Louise
Parking next door at the Skate Park and Encino Farmer's Market from 12 Noon-8 pm daily
Additional parking available at Birmingham High School
Handicapped parking available in the National Guard Armory Parking Lot
For more information about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute: www.avtt.org
For more information about Operation Gratitude:
www.OperationGratitude.com
For more information about the Operation Gratitude-AVTT Event:
OpGrat@gmail.com or ptmarty@aol.com
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude ( www.OperationGratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that annually sends 100,000+ care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and on Naval ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$100 and costs the organization $11 to assemble and ship. By the end of 2009, Operation Gratitude will have shipped more than 500,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.
About American Veterans Traveling Tribute ("AVTT")
AVTT (www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their lives for our country's freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten. AVTT is funded through sponsorship fees, donations, and sale of merchandise at events.