Monday, April 27th, 2009

Lin and I attended a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project last night in our hometown of Greenwich, CT. Organized by resident Michelle Simonte, it was a wonderful and important event. Founder John Melia spoke movingly about the beginnings of WWP and their commitment to honor and assist our wounded warriors. Scott Higgins & John Melia. Here’s a picture of John and me in front of a Support the Troops Board signed by our daughter Drew, along with other students from her high school.

As you may already be aware, Veterans Advantage is proudly providing complimentary VA lifetime memberships to all WWP alumni, with a contribution of nearly $250,000 this year alone to the Project. We and WWP are grateful to our members who support Veterans Advantage and make such a gift possible. You are doing your part in giving back with your program participation.

If you check out this week’s TopVet feature story on Harry Kalas, you’ll learn that literally millions of Philadelphia Phillies baseball fans can thank the U.S. Army for one of the most legendary broadcasters of our time. Because the Army stationed him in Hawaii in 1959, Kalas started calling his first ballgames there and experienced his first successes in the profession. He later went on to 39 memorable years calling play-by-play for the Phillies. It’s only fitting that in his last season as a broadcaster in 2008, the Phillies won the World Baseball championship. So this Veteran went out on top.

Dell, one of our longest serving and loyal benefit partners has an even more special deal for you: Since 2002, the company has promised to combine generally advertised dell.com special offers with our 10% Everyday Savings. Now the company is going one better: If you find a system on the public dell.com listed at a lower price than what you see in our special Dell online store, our Dell representatives promise to not just match, but actually beat the public Dell price – just call Dell toll-free at 1-866-257-4711 and provide your Veterans Advantage identification.

Tags: Veterans Advantage benefits, Veterans Advantage Charitable Activities, WWP alumni benefits
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Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

In late autumn last year, my son and Gettysburg College Freshman Parker Higgins spent an active and picturesque weekend afternoon with two friends on the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefield. Skateboarding to the summit of Little Round Top (the high ground of the battlefield overlooking the wheat field where Picket made his ill-fated charge), he thought he had the beautiful view all to himself, when he spotted two imposing snipers carrying long-range rifles, one to his right and the other to his left.

Yes, you read correctly. Snipers. “Yikes,” he thought and asked them what was going on. They said “nothing.” Then, he asked them if it was all right for him to be there. And they said, “yes, it was OK”. At that point, a caravan of cars and SUV’s pulled up and out of one, jumped …President Bush! He walked straight over to Parker, shook hands and asked “did you come up all the way to the top on that board?”

The former president was touring the battlefield for the first time, having flown by Marine Corps One from Camp David with friends and family. He and Parker exchanged some memorable – and fun – insights about the area, including a special salute to Veterans Advantage – “be sure to tell your parents thank you for everything they do for veterans.”

Anyway, back to the promise – the President promised to send a signed photo of Parker’s chance encounter. We wondered if it ever would arrive, especially since inauguration day had come and gone.

But true to his promise, President Bush delivered with a signed photograph. [See below].

It was nice of him to remember. Go Parker!

Tags: parker higgins, president bush
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Bill Nelson, the head of HBO and a fellow Vietnam Army Vet, invited us to a private screening of “Taking Chance,” an HBO-produced presentation based on the true story of Marine Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.). The film chronicle’s Strobl’s journey as the volunteer military escort officer assigned to accompany the body of 19-year old Lance Corporate Chance Phelps, USMC, across America to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming. Lance Corporal Phelps was killed in action in Iraq on April 9, 2004.

As Peter Eldredge, a VA Board member and guest at the event said:

“’Taking Chance’ is a beautiful, sensitive and stunning portrayal of a young Soldier who paid the ultimate price in defense of his country. Historically accurate, the film captures the unparalleled honor and respect for our fallen heroes. Not to be missed! For sure, it’s a compelling reminder to thank your troops for serving so bravely.

More on the movie here.

Tags: hbo movies, Strobl journey, taking chances
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