Cover Story: Holiday Greetings - Veterans Advantage Participates in USO & CMOH Foundation Activities

Veterans Advantage is keeping a busy December holiday season with important events that honor military service and sacrifice.

Through a special invite from Brian Whiting, head of the USO of Metropolitan NYC, Veterans Advantage was represented at its annual holiday gala event in Manhattan earlier this week. The USO/NYC, which just recently added to its board Veterans Advantage TopVet Bruce Whitman, CEO of Flight Safety International, hosted another moving event in its signature USO style.

As it does each year, the USO honors a representative from each major branch of service as part of its George Van Cleave Leadership Awards. Medal of Honor Recipient Dakota Meyer was there, leading the list, representing his US Marine Corps brethren with honor.

The keynote honoree was General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who provided more on the theme of leadership. “I was honored to share some time with the General,” said Veterans Advantage founder Scott Higgins, a Vietnam veteran, who was joined in the pre-event discussion with another recent Veterans Advantage honoree, Malcolm Pray.

Dempsey received the annual USO Distinguished Service Awards along with Albert P. Carey, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages. Likewise, Whitman and Pray are both past honorees, so the evening honored these American heroes and patriots.

A major cause celebrated during the event, was Operation Enduring Care, a USO-led initiative raising $100 million to help wounded warriors and their families. Projects include the construction of two wounded warrior family centers -- one at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and one at Fort Belvoir, Va. More on that here.

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOUNDATION: COMMEMORATIVE COINS FOR SALE

We’re also honoring Bruce Whitman this week at Veterans Advantage’s annual holiday gathering for staff, selected VIPs, and board members. Readers may recall we recently named Whitman a TopVet for his 50-years of loyal service to Flight Safety International, and his leadership at the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

Bruce is currently spearheading a significant charitable campaign to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a special set of commemorative silver and gold coins, commissioned by Congress and the US Mint under a limited time availability – which expires December 16.

We stopped by the company’s offices at New York City’s La Guardia Airport, to inspect the coins, take a test ride in one of the company’s flight simulator and learn more about the company.

The coins themselves are beautiful, and make a great holiday gift. Parents may also consider passing them on to their children as a family heirloom that will remind future generations of the spirit of service brought by these Medal of Honor recipients.