Vet News: Valentines for Veterans Concerts

Press Release Source: Help Hospitalized Veterans On Friday February 5, 2010, 4:07 pm EST

WINCHESTER, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There’s no question about it — Valentines Day is about being with the ones you love. An evening shared out on the town or the exchanging of gifts become fond memories. For some though, Valentines Day can be filled with loneliness and difficulty as many men and women serving their country in the military often results in separation of family and friends over the holiday.

The same holds true for hospitalized veterans and injured soldiers and their families. With that in mind, national nonprofit organization Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) has teamed up with eleven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers across the nation to host the National Salute to Veteran Patients, Valentines for Veterans Concerts. What began in February 2007 as a single, small town Valentines Day Concert event to show support for local veterans has grown to become a nation-wide, annual event with additional host facilities participating each year. Inspiration for the Concerts was a tender love story between a severely wounded Iraq veteran and his wife.

“VA’s goal of informing America's veterans of VA programs and services is a very important part of the outreach going on through the Concert series,” said VA Voluntary Service Director, Laura Balun. "We want citizens to come enjoy a great show and learn more about volunteer opportunities available with VA."

After the success of the first Concert, the series expanded to four locations in 2009. This year, the Concerts will be held in eleven U.S. cities – Baltimore, Maryland; Battle Creek, Michigan; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Prescott, Arizona; St. Louis, Missouri; and Wichita, Kansas. The acts will include Aaron Tippin, The Chi-Lites, Lee Greenwood, The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards and 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Little Anthony and The Imperials.

"Our hope is that the Concerts boost awareness of the needs of VA medical centers, increase understanding of the issues facing wounded veterans and their families, and encourage people to volunteer at their local VA," said HHV President & CEO Mike Lynch. "Although admission is free to the public, these Concerts wouldn’t be possible if it weren't for the tremendous support provided by local sponsors from each community pitching in to make this a memorable event."

The Concert series will kick off in Chicago at the historic Auditorium Theater on Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. and will conclude on Friday, February 19 at the famed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

For more information and complimentary tickets, please contact the Voluntary Service office of any VA medical facility listed above.

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