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Ive been volunteering with a local veterans organization called The Greatest Generations Foundation for the last few year. Ive been extremely fortunate to escort these "Warriors" (They dont like to be called Heroes as they believe the real Heroes are the ones who didnt make it) back to Pearl Harbor (2012,2013) and Normandy (70th Anniversary of DDay 2014). Ive seen first hand the unbelievable gratitude these men receive when traveling back to their battle sites. The goal for TGGF is honor these Veterans and help perpetuate their legacies for future generations to understand the real mean and the real stories as it happened to them. This foundation has been around for 10 years and in December they will be traveling back to Bastogne for the final commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge and the final program for WWII veterans.
The next goal of the foundation is to execute similar programs for Veterans of Vietnam. If you are a Vietnam Veteran and would like to return to your battlefield this is an opportunity for you. Some Veterans of past programs have never been back, some have been back many times. For some it's a trip to get reacquainted with fellow Veterans, for some it's a trip of healing to shed the demons they may have been carrying around with them. Regardless of the reason for going, everyone has a good time and you will be treated with the utmost respect and honor that you deserve. The trips are all paid for by the foundation which is funded mostly by private donations from Patriots who want to help honor you. There are really only two caveats to going. 1) You must be able bodied as there will most likely be lots of walking and standing 2) No family, this is a "guys" trip meant to honor you and what you did no matter how large or small.
If you are a Vietnam Veteran and would like to return to Vietnam, I and the Foundation would be honored to have you along. There are going to be multiple programs over the course of the next few years returning to multiple sights. Please follow the link below and contact the foundation via the "Contact Us" link.
Thank You for reading and Thank You for your service,
-Jason
PS: I get nothing in return from this other than the satisfaction that I can help and honor Veterans like yourselves. I am truly humbled and honored to be a part of this.
PSS: You may have seen the documentary series put together by Jeremy Hubbard and Sean Towles of Fox31 as they followed us in Normandy this year and Pearl Harbor last year. http://kdvr.com/2014/06/06/colorado-...r-anniversary/
The Greatest Generations Foundation
http://tggf.org/
TGGF Contact Form
http://www.tggf.org/ContactUs/
Me (middle blue shirt) with several of our WWII Veterans sitting on the cobbled ruins of Point Du Hoc
Me and Boatswains Mate Archie Gregory, stationed on the USS Vestal but was on the deck of the USS Arizona the morning of December 7th, sadly he passed away last year and marked the first Veteran Ive come to know who has passed away. His story was incredible, frightening and heroic. On a side note, even at 96 years young he could drink us all under the table!