Veterans Day 2010 Big Salute to America's Heroes

News provided by

Nov 10, 2010, 06:10 ET

Paralyzed Veterans Urges All Americans to Join Effort to Empower Veterans with Disabilities

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Veterans Day, Paralyzed Veterans of America is encouraging all Americans to join in giving a Big Salute to all veterans with disabilities—by doing something to help empower those who have served and sacrificed.

"Veterans Day is an opportunity for everyone to really help and empower our heroes who live with life-altering injuries and their families," said Bill Lawson, national president of Paralyzed Veterans. "Make veterans your mission this November 11 and you'll be doing something that could positively change the lives of veterans from the Greatest Generation to the latest generation, those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Big Salute is part of Paralyzed Veterans' Mission: ABLE campaign to enlist all Americans—citizens, communities and corporations—to help our paralyzed heroes fully live the lives they deserve and to receive what they need most: care, benefits and jobs.

The national unemployment rate for veterans with severe disabilities is a shocking 85 percent. Through Mission: ABLE, Paralyzed Veterans aims to turn this appalling statistic around and, through the organization's vocational rehabilitation program, help veterans with disabilities get a fair shot at the American Dream, a good job at a good company.

"If you are an employer, a great way to honor our veterans with disabilities this Veterans Day is to hire them. This is good for business and great for America," Lawson said.

Microsoft, Food City, Alcoa Foundation and Snapfish are joining Paralyzed Veterans' Mission: ABLE as partners this Veterans Day.

Beyond Veterans Day, Lawson urged everyone to take a few minutes to:

"THINK about the unique challenges paralyzed veterans face every day—imagine how hard it would be to do what you take for granted now...if you were in a wheelchair; LEARN more about Paralyzed Veterans of America and join us in a Big Salute to all veterans on Veterans Day; and THANK veterans in your community for their service. It means more than you might imagine."

SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America