If you are a fan of our Facebook page, you would have read about the 1,000 jobs hiring plan announced by Disney. While we applaud initiatives like this, we need momentum. We need an across-the-board commitment so announcements are a common practice and not a news event.

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)

I hope you golf fans enjoyed the thrilling conclusion this past weekend to the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Miami’s Doral Resort, now owned by fellow golf fanatic Donald Trump. He and I go way back. In 1985, he and I Co-Chaired the New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. Through what we called the “Trump Challenge,” he gave $1 million to the Memorial and the work of the Commission.

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!

Every since a few weeks back when I had a chance to see an advance screening of “Act of Valor” – a moving on-screen glimpse of life for the Navy SEALs – I’ve been fascinated by its reception in the public eye. This elite group of warriors has captured America’s attention ever since it caught Osama bin Laden last spring, and judging from its recent box office success, this spotlight continues to shine today.

Some of you have already offered up great feedback about “Act of Valor” on our Facebook page. We even asked a fellow veteran, and resident Veterans Advantage movie reviewer, Ed Koch to take a look. He, like me, encourages all to see it because “we owe a lot to these special forces.”

It is a real-life tribute to those whose story is rarely told. You get a front row seat into life for the Navy SEALS, who not only performed with such realism, but they also had to literally “shoot” many scenes under live fire. It was #1 at the box office last weekend, and we expect it to be #1 in the hearts of many of those who served and their families.

We hope you get a chance to see this move soon. And, remember, Veterans Advantage members should log into Members Only to see how they can get their movie ticket discount for this and many other movies playing at major theaters.

Stocking up on necessities for your home or small business? Veterans Advantage members should look to our partnership with Overstock.com by utilizing its O.biz site. For instance it is a great resource for office furniture and supplies, restaurant and catering gear and wholesale products – all of which help you entrepreneurs out there looking to make it on your own.

But you may find it appealing for the home, too. As noted by my spouse Lin, you can also load up on cleaning supplies, which is always welcome around the house.

Remember, Veterans Advantage members get to shop the O.biz storefront using their complimentary “Club O” account, a free one-year membership (a $19.95 value) for Veterans Advantage members. Club O gets you 5% everyday cash back savings, free shipping, and more. Log into Members Only for directions on how to get started today.

We hope you enjoy reading our profile of William “Bill” Holloman, a former Veterans Advantage member. Bill passed away a few years after we originally worked with him on the piece, but his legacy is alive and well today. As one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, he helped pioneer the way for millions of African Americans who later served our nation with honor.  ”We were the forerunners of the civil rights movement. We opened the door…and it has taken years for people to recognize our contribution to the war,” he once said. The achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen were recently celebrated in the movie “Red Tails,” starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.

And in recognition of African American History month, we wanted to take a moment to remember the story of Holloman, and so many other great Americans who came after him.

Here are the other great African Americans who were linked by military service and high achievement, profiled by Veterans Advantage over the years.

• Frank Miller, Dell Executive, Veterans Advantage Advisory Board member
• Clarice Joynes, Champion for New York City Veterans
• Julie A. Cunningham, COMTO president
• Sidney Poitier, actor
• Charles F. Bolden Jr., NASA administrator
• David Robinson, former NBA star
• Will Smith, Actor
• Harris Faulkner, journalist
• Michael Strahan, former NFL star
• Rachel Smith, former Miss USA
• Senate Chaplain Barry Black
• Chris Gardner, Author
• Bill Cosby, Comedian
• Duery Felton, Jr. Vietnam Veterans Museum Curator

For more on the importance of this month, learn more on this Library of Congress website about African American History Month.

We are pleased to announce a new benefit for Veterans Advantage members. We now have special discounts on select PGA Tour® and Champions Tour tickets through the TOUR’s own Birdies for the Brave® program. Our first tournament discounts were just announced for our members, including next week’s  World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship just outside of Tucson, Arizona.

Veterans Advantage members attending the tournament can also present their VetRewards Card for complimentary access into the PGA Tour’s own Patriots’ Outpost hospitality tent.

Active Duty military who are Veterans Advantage members continue to be eligible for free tickets.

Want more information? Click here for more on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour ticket discounts through Veterans Advantage.

We also wanted to thank our friends at Golf Digest for covering news of our announcement. Click here for the news about Veterans Advantage and Birdies for the Brave at GolfDigest.com.