Apple recently opened an exciting new store on the main street of our hometown. Lin needed a new computer, so after showing her Veterans Advantage card, saved $160 on a new MacBook Pro! Thank you, Apple!

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?

We sent an email communication to our members over the weekend to make sure they are aware these extra Veterans Advantage benefits are available for access. If you are one of them, log in to Members Only today for the special instructions.

If you are interested and not yet a member, try Veterans Advantage for 30 days today.

For instance, we have a great discount on gym memberships, a perfect fit for New Year’s Resolutions. With our recent additions of New York Sports Clubs and 24-Hour Fitness, our discount gym provider is offering a full set of discount options with top clubs across the country. Sample pricing on New York Sports shows you save nearly $150 annually on a gym membership in the New York City area – more than twice in savings what you pay for your Veterans Advantage membership.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our online benefit with Dunkin’ Donuts, with a special 20% discount throughout the month of January. Our VP of Marketing just loaded up on a month’s supply – list price of $39.99 for five one-pound bags – for his home and saved $8. If he purchased once a month (some months will provide a 10% discount), he would save $60 over a year, paying for his VA membership. So, his VA membership is free without any change in daily coffee habit because he is a Dunkin’ Donuts customer and Veterans Advantage member.

Speaking of other annual savings, I noticed a great discount for Peter Eldredge, an Advisory Board member and proud daddy to a 90-pound golden retriever. He’s loading up on a 12-month’s supply of flea and tick medication, combining our 15% discount with the company’s generally advertised discount, netting a savings of 28%. Those savings amount to $57.17 – again nearly covering the annual fee.

We are grateful for your membership, which helps support the charitable activities of Veterans Advantage. This holiday season, we deployed another 65,000 complimentary Veterans Advantage membership cards to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through our partners, Operation Gratitude and Operation Care & Comfort. To date, we have deployed 365,000 complimentary memberships. These sponsored memberships represent an important part of our charitable activities, as we honor and acknowledge the service of these brave men and women.

We also are working hard to add new and substantial benefits to the program. We ask companies to partner with us and offer preferred pricing on their goods and services as a thank you for service to the country. As we enter 2010, we are encouraged by the strong response we continue to receive. Our hope is that the companies we approach will want to participate, since Veterans Advantage provides them with a successful program to administer their benefit and an opportunity “To Give Back To All Who Serve.”

Finally, and importantly, Lin and I and the whole team at Veterans Advantage wish you and yours the most special of holiday seasons. We are honored to count you among our members, and wish you peace, hope and prosperity in 2010.

Please remember our brave men and women who serve today in your prayers.

It is a must-see for anyone who has served our country, and their families. Everyone I know has seen it, and found it as riveting as I have. It also makes for a great holiday gift.

The list price for “Taking Chance” is $19.95, but free with membership. Note: This is a limited time offer and available on a first-come, first-serve basis and is only available through this dedicated link. (Editor’s Note, January 17, 2010 — Kevin Bacon wins Golden Globe Award for “Taking Chance,” Best Performance for an Actor in a Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television).

More about Veterans Advantage’s partnership with HBO^® .

Too often National Guard and Reserve forces are not recognized and acknowledged for their service. That is changing. As our friend from VetJobs, Ted Daywalt wrote recently in his publication Early Eagle:

“The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,188; Navy Reserve, 6,405; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,949; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,559; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 656. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,757, including both units and individual augmentees.” A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found by clicking here.

With an eye on your benefits this week, here’s a timely offer – our special Dell discount program now includes some really cool designs. The baseball edition is definitely worth a look. Just pick your favorite team. Of course, I’m going with the Yanks.

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.

Our editor’s special picks should make for interesting reading about all military families as well. For starters, our VetFamily profile this week reveals a very disciplined side to two-time Academy Award nominated actress Amy Adams, and how an ol’ fashioned Army brat upbringing has led her to her latest achievement, co-starring with Meryl Streep in this month’s hit “Julie and Julia.” Secondly, be sure to check out the report from our military disabilities expert, Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, about how war-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is affecting children returning to school this year.

Want to read our newsletter before joining Veterans Advantage? No problem: Here’s a sample.