Special Veterans Day Salute: The Wounded Warrior Experience Brings Together Inspiring Stories of Courage

Public event takes place on Thursday, October 25 at 8:00 PM at the United States Navy Memorial – Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterans Center is honored to announce the lineup for The Wounded Warrior Experience, a special tribute to injured service members that will be held on Thursday, October 25 at 8:00 PM (reception prior at 6:45 PM) at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The event is presented by University of Phoenix and Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation.

The event, which will be filmed for a special Veterans Day broadcast on The Pentagon Channel, will be hosted by Jennifer Griffin (National Security Correspondent, Fox News Channel).  The Wounded Warrior Experience features stories of service members who, while in several cases gravely wounded in combat, have fought to overcome their injuries and  serve as an inspiration to fellow service members and fellow Americans.

Participants include:

Rick Yarosh – U.S Army cavalry scout, wounded when his Bradley vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Abu Ghraib region of Iraq.
Rob Jones – U.S Marine sergeant who lost his legs from an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan, now a paralympian rower.
Chief Master Sergeant Richard Simonsen - Senior Enlisted Leader for Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, focusing on PTSD/TBI/Suicide Prevention.
Kim Ruocco - Director, Suicide Postvention Program Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
Charles Eggleston - U.S. Armystaff sergeant severely wounded by an IED while serving in Iraq, going on to become an advocate for wounded warriors. Representing Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation.
Jim Hilleary - Retired U.S. Army Officer currently Associate Faculty, University of Phoenix-Northern Virginia Campus

"The Purple Heart Service Foundation is proud to co-sponsor this Veterans Day Salute to all of our men and women in uniform," said Mr. James Blaylock, President.  "The inspirational stories shared here by these brave individuals are a tribute to the sacrifice and commitment of our military men and women. They are a great example of the indelible spirit that makes America the beacon of freedom around the world."

"University of Phoenix is proud to present The Wounded Warrior Experience, the opening event of the American Veterans Center 15th Annual Conference," said University of Phoenix Military Division Associate Regional Vice President retired Army Col. Garland Williams. "The Wounded Warrior Experience is an inspirational program and special tribute to our veterans and injured service members around the world. We would like to thank all service members and veterans for defending our Nation's freedom so honorably."

The event is free and open to the public, and will be preceded by a reception.  Reservations are suggested, and can be made by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 703-302-1012 ext. 227. 

The Wounded Warrior Experience is the opening event of the American Veterans Center's 15^th Annual Conference, featuring many of the most notable veterans from World War II to the present.  For more details, visit www.americanveteranscenter.org. Follow @AVCupdate and #AVC2012 on Twitter for updates and highlights of the event.

About the American Veterans Center
The mission of the American Veterans Center is to guard the legacy and honor the sacrifice of all America's veterans and active duty service personnel from World War II through today. A non-profit educational organization, the Center and its programs are funded solely through generous contributions from people like you. All contributions are tax-deductible. The AVC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

About University of Phoenix Military Division  
University of Phoenix Military Division works directly with active military members, their spouses, and veterans to help them balance frequent deployments, relocations, and training schedules while obtaining their degrees. University of Phoenix Military Division students can access classes online or at more than 100 University of Phoenix locations, giving military students an opportunity to choose the learning environment that is most conducive to their educational success. Active duty military members and spouses stationed or deployed overseas can earn either a Master of Business Administration or Master of Arts in Education degree at campus locations throughout Europe and Asia. More information can be found at http://www.phoenix.edu/military.

About the Military Order of the Purple Heart
The organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Most importantly, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS program, MOPH volunteers provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA sites and State Veterans Homes.

SOURCE American Veterans Center