As her organization reports on its website, over 2 million troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf since September 11, 2001, and nearly 550,000 of these troops have been deployed more than once. When you include all the families impacted by these life-changing circumstances you have a staggering multiplier on the wellbeing of so many very patriotic Americans.

Her efforts continue to get attention. In addition to Van Dahlen recently being named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, her organization was one of the five winners of the White House’s Joining Forces Community Challenge, aiming to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society to ensure military families have the support they have earned.

Barbara has been a contributing editor to Veterans Advantage for several years, and our relationship to support and do outreach for Give an Hour dates back to 2008. Join us in our ongoing support of Give an Hour, by clicking here for more information on attending the gala – or even sponsor a complimentary ticket for a very worthy veteran or Active Duty service member.

Here’s a sampling of other great benefits for Veterans Advantage members in time for Mother’s Day:

• United Airlines: A romantic weekend getaway gift. See more in our Travel & Entertainment section.
• High Tech: A laptop from Apple or Dell; wireless plans and accessories from Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile. See more in our Home and Office Section.
• Overstock.com., Target.com or Sears.com: Apparel, jewelry, gifts. See more in Everyday Shopping.
• Lady Foot Locker.com: Outdoor active wear and shoes for the summer. See more in Everyday Shopping.

We could not agree more with the reasons why this has happened. As Admiral Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says in her TIME profile: “Barbara has tenaciously attacked the epidemic of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTS), helping break through the stigma that prevents many from seeking help. She has also created an opportunity for many who have not served in uniform to make a difference.”

• Click Here for TIME Profile

• Click Here for TIME Video Profile

Barbara has worked tirelessly for the past seven years to build a strong, national network of mental health professionals who provide free services to U.S. troops, veterans, their loved ones and their communities. Since Give an Hour’s inception in 2005, Barbara’s work has brought together over 6,100 providers, who have collectively given nearly $5 million worth of services.

And, not only has Barbara been recognized by TIME, but just last week – Give an Hour was also chosen by The White House as a Joining Forces Community Challenge winner, a key community drive that has gathered steam in only one year.

“Give an Hour was built on the philosophy that there are many ways to serve as well as on the belief that we all have something of value to give to those in need,” she writes in this month’s commentary for Veterans Advantage members, an exclusive contribution she has been making to Veterans Advantage since 2009. “In addition, our organization promotes the principle that we will be more effective in attending to those who need and deserve our care if we harness our community-based resources and encourage collaboration among all stakeholders and organizations within our communities.”

As part of the Champions Tour, the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf is currently expected to include the following big names from PGA TOUR events of the past, many of whom are former major tournament champions: Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Gary Player and Fred Couples, who most recently made a run at his second Green Jacket at last week’s Masters Tournament in nearby Augusta, GA.

You can currently save $13 per ticket – or 56.5% — on “any day” tickets, which lets you attend any single day during the tournament week.

And Veterans Advantage has also made it easy to get to this special event, and combine your savings. Log on to Members Only for information on how you can save on travel to the tournament. The savings are significant enough that you may want to round up some of your fellow veteran/golf buddies for a memorable golf getaway weekend.

Sample savings, we found as of today, include:

United Airlines: Veterans Advantage Discount

Newark to Savannah, GA: Save $67.50 per ticket

Amtrak: Veterans Advantage Discount

Washington, DC to Savannah, GA: Save $34.05 per ticket

Greyhound: Veterans Advantage Discount

Austin, TX to Savannah, GA: Save $74 per ticket

Finally, speaking of other great tournaments, Veterans Advantage has discounted tickets available for THE PLAYERS, coming up next month. We currently found an “any day” total ticket price of $21.11 a whopping savings of 67.7% – for a total combined savings of $44.24 after processing & handling fees.

We compared it against a service offered through one of our credit cards, and felt Veterans Advantage VIP Concierge Services came out on top. Great email followup over the weekend from our friendly representative, too. And all of this is always reachable a phone call away.

These services come free as part of our “Bonus with Membership” benefits package. These are all available to Veterans Advantage members at no extra charge:

• FREE Prescription Drug Discount Program
• FREE $5,000 AD&D Insurance Coverage
• FREE Customized Personal Financial Planning
• FREE $50,000 Medical Travel Insurance
• FREE Travel Booking Services
• FREE Global Travel Protection Services
• FREE Worldwide Travel Assistance
• FREE Worldwide Security Assistance
• FREE VIP Concierge Services
• FREE Travel Medical Assistance
• FREE Identity Theft Assistance

When I think back to the post-war 70′s and early 80′s, I remember that Americans wanted to forget the war…and those who served and sacrificed in it. This was an unpopular war, but the country confused the war with the warrior. There was no honor, there was no recognition, there was no thank you for service in the Vietnam War. Thanks to New York City Mayor Ed Koch’s support, we were able to execute in 1985 on what was the first “Welcome Home” parade in the country, the largest ticker tape parade in the New York’s history, and construct a stunning glass memorial in lower Manhattan to honor Vietnam Veterans. We must never forget the 1741 New Yorkers who gave their lives in that war, and whose names were read at the ceremony.

One of the best things about Veterans Advantage is that when it comes to supporting vets, we don’t have a horse in this race – we want all employers to be doing this. Encourage hiring practices that include veterans, start a club or support group in your company, openly speak about your service in the office. Make our lives real to the civilians in Corporate America who want to understand and appreciate the unique traits you can bring to the office – and how that ensures business success.

The Iraq War started 9 years ago this past week. If you served there, thank you. And now, more than ever, our thoughts turn to those serving in Afghanistan, and we pray for their safe return to their families and loved ones.

TriWest CEO David McIntyre, Hal Fritz (MoH Recipient), Secretary Gates, Bruce Whitman and Co-Chairman of the CMoH Foundation. Tom Matthews (Co-Chairman, CMoHF) (click photo to enlarge)

Veterans Advantage TopVet Bruce Whitman checked in with a great update from his work as co-chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation (CMoHF), and his recent stop late last month at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for the fifth annual “Celebration of Freedom” gala.

Co-hosts for the evening were Mr. David McIntyre, President & CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance and a Foundation board member, actor, entertainer of U.S. troops, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, Mr. Gary Sinise, and businessman, Mr. Bruce Brereton.

Bruce Whitman personally was on hand for the presentation of the Circle of Honor Award to the Honorable Robert Gates, who served as Defense Secretary from 2006 to 2011. It was star studded affair of heroes of past and present, including MoH recipient/Afghanistan War veteran Sal Giunta.

“Another great American evening,” Bruce told me.

Hat’s off to Bruce for once again perpetuating the legacy of the Medal of Honor.

Bruce Whitman, Benjamin Roberts-Smith (one of 8 living Victoria Cross holders), and Walter Ehlers (MoH Recipient – WWII) (click photo to enlarge)

George Sakato (MoH Recipient – WWII) and Sal Giunta (MoH Recipient/Afghanistan War) (click photo to enlarge)

Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mullen and his wife Deborah (click photo to enlarge)

Over 25 years later, here he is sharing a smile with my sister, Kiki Higgins, a Veterans Advantage member. Kiki’s deceased husband was a fellow Vietnam Veteran, who later died of Agent Orange exposure. She is an avid golfer, as is her fiancée, Wayne Bernard.

Kiki attended the tournament this week with many other Veterans Advantage members who enjoyed free and discounted tickets as part of our partnership with the PGA TOUR’s “Birdies for the Brave.” And if this weekend’s action is any indication, we can expect an action-packed season for Veterans Advantage VetRewards cardholders with more of the same!