We are proud of Fisher House, and have been longtime supporters of them as well. Their public/private partnerships are making a significant impact on the lives of the critically wounded and their families.

“The program is now becoming part of the American consciousness,” Chief Executive Ken Fisher told Veterans Advantage in an exclusive interview, our current VetFamily honoree. “It’s slowly but surely starting to gain a lot of momentum.”

Just two days before the announcement, I visited Ken’s offices to present our VetFamily Award to him. I was joined by Roy Asfar, our Vice President of Marketing, and producer of Ken’s VetFamily award designation, as well as Veterans Advantage board members Peter Eldredge and Gerry Byrne. Gerry is also on the Board of Fisher House.

(l. to r. ) Peter Eldredge, Ken Fisher, Scott Higgins, Gerry Byrne

Omaha Steaks, a leader in the premium foods business since 1917 and actually one of the first companies to launch an e-commerce site in the 1990s, is combining a special 5% discount on retail and sale prices online, by phone or at its retail stores for card-carrying Veterans Advantage members.

When active members log into Members Only, they get access to a special discount link for immediate online discounts, which will be shown at checkout, as well as instructions on how to get the discount offline.

Only two months until outdoor grilling season. Are you ready?

The U.S. Department of Defense has special coverage of all our military Olympians here.

Many know Donna for her own Olympic fame, as a gold medalist swimmer, and later as an Emmy Award-winning anchor and correspondent for ABC Sports. She is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Women and Sport Commission.

More on the Veterans Advantage Board of Advisors.

For instance, you should check out “The Hurt Locker,” an Iraq War drama about a risk-taking bomb disposal technician which just scored the top film award from the Producers Guild of America. The movie is building new momentum for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and you can shop for it today in our online discount site from Barnes & Noble.

For other military and historical video entertainment, you should check out our online discount store at the History Channel, with 20% discounts for Veterans Advantage members.

Finally, as a follow up to our news last week about some extra benefit enhancements, our friends at 1800FLOWERS.com have increased its discount with us for the Valentine’s Day shopping season, with a special upgrade to 20% discount for Veterans Advantage members (through February 15, 2010).

First, an update: Our Dunkin’ Donuts special 20% online discount has been extended through February 28, 2010. Extending the window here has now ensured you have a significant money-saving option for Valentine’s Day gift giving, and it is a terrific way to kick off our partnership.

Dell, meanwhile, has extended availability for an additional 5% discount in our 10-30% Everyday Savings online storefront. That offer is now good through 1/29/2009, and available to Veterans Advantage members in Members Only.

In this era of information overload, you don’t deserve needing to scramble all over the Internet to find a great price, especially one that honors you for your service. Through standard everyday discounts, which we actively make available to our members each day, Veterans Advantage members get assurance there’s always something available with membership.

And thanks to the likes of Dunkin Donuts and Dell, you are getting extra savings on top of what you already get.

What could be better than that?

This week’s HeroVet feature is the WWII Navajo Code Talkers. They transmitted messages on behalf of the Allies that saved countless American lives. Thankfully, their code was never broken. On Veterans Day, a dozen of these Veterans were proudly welcomed by NYC Mayor Bloomberg at the Mayor’s breakfast and in the parade that followed. Thanks to HBO CEO Bill Nelson, their trip to the Big Apple from Arizona was fully underwritten; they rode on the Pacifica float to the cheers of appreciative New Yorkers. Pacifica is the HBO series on the War in the Pacific, opening in March.

Speaking of history, I was pleased to see that the History Channel has joined our group of Veterans Advantage partners who are combining their discounts. In addition to the current 10% discount off the list price on its Web site for a special WWI 7-Disc DVD selection, Veterans Advantage members get another 20% off on top of that and save a whopping $42! That alone pays for the first eight months of your annual Veterans Advantage membership!

Other places you may see your Veterans Advantage discount being combined is via our special online links to Dell and Target. There are special savings there for holiday shoppers.

At last count as I am writing this blog entry, I must say I am somewhat surprised to see the majority of you are planning on buying a car in the next year. For our economy’s sake, I hope so, too.

And if you are interested in our most recent polls, check these out:

• What’s your source for Do-It-Yourself home remodeling? Some were not surprised to see Lowe’s won, but wow, by such a wide margin!
• New benefits that you want to see in the Veterans Advantage program: We always take our feedback in this area and try to find the best of the best for you.

Going forward, you should visit our “Resources” section regularly for more updates.

Here’s a couple of tips I think will help you get started:

If you are exploring our program for the first time: Click any of the blue links across the top for background on our program. We’ve worked to enhance this area to underscore the importance of our mission — ranging from unique money-saving benefits across a range of key everyday categories with your Veterans Advantage Card, to the latest news and resources to keep you informed about your ongoing benefits from the government and the private sector. And finally, through our charitable activities, we want you to know that you are truly part of something special.

If you are not a member yet, I encourage you to sign up today and get started.

If you are already a member: Click on “Members Only” in the upper right hand corner of each page to access your benefits to enter with your Veterans Advantage Member ID and password. You’ll find direct benefit access just one or two clicks away from anywhere on our Web site.

Our valuable member services support continues to be online: visit the personalized “Your Account” area and “Contact Us” for online support or see our Help section. And finally, your Veterans Advantage Membership qualifies you for our free weekly member e-newsletter that updates you on the latest inclusions in your benefits package and is posted on our new site under “Resources.”

All of us here at Veterans Advantage hope you like this upgrade to our Web site. Tell us what you think!

Enjoy VeteransAdvantage.com today.