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David Letterman Makes Cameo At SoldierStrong’s Annual Gala

SoldierStrong Announces Former Navy SEAL Rorke Denver to Host 4th Annual SoldierSalute Gala

Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense to Deliver Keynote Address at Event Honoring the Nonprofit’s Notable Supporters

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SoldierStrong, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced medical technologies to veterans, today announced that Former Navy SEAL commander, Rorke Denver, will host its 4th Annual SoldierSalute Gala to honor notable supporters. The gala is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 19th, 2017, at 6 p.m. at The Union League of Philadelphia, PA.

Denver will lead the evening’s celebrations that will include a keynote address by former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, and deliver awards to the honorees. Army Veteran Dan Rose, who was injured while on active duty and left paralyzed, will stand and walk using the EksoGTTM wearable exoskeleton to demonstrate the type of devices that SoldierStrong donates.

“The work SoldierStrong does to provide advanced medical technology to our veterans is admirable,” said Secretary Chuck Hagel. “It’s my pleasure to be a part of the gala and celebrate the organization and its supporters.”

This year’s corporate honoree is Multistack, Inc., a leading distributor of modular water chillers. Over the last four years, Multistack has raised over $350,000 for SoldierStrong through the company’s fundraiser events. Individual honorees include Jon Runyan, former U.S. Representative and NFL player, Dr. Jerry Francesco and Lucille Francesco.

“We are tremendously grateful for our supporters, which we look forward to celebrating, and are honored to have such important figures hosting and speaking at our gala,” said Chris Meek, co-founder, and chairman of SoldierStrong. “It is thanks to them that we are able to give back to our veterans.”

Established in 2009, SoldierStrong is committed to providing veterans access to cutting-edge medical technologies to help them overcome life-changing injuries sustained while on active duty. The organization uses the funds raised through various charity events, and the generosity of corporate and individual donors to purchase cutting-edge medical technology for veterans.

To RSVP or for more information, contact: Events@SoldierStrong.org or (888) 898-3235, ext. 703. You can also register at soldierstrong.org/soldiersalute/

About SoldierStrong
SoldierStrong, previously known as SoldierSocks, helps American patriots literally take their next steps forward. Through educational scholarships and by harnessing the most innovative technology in advanced rehabilitation, we help our returning service men and women to continue moving in the only direction they should know – forward. Nearly every dollar SoldierStrong receives goes towards direct support of American patriots so that they can re-acclimate to civilian life. Our organization works to remind those men and women who sacrificed so much that we are forever thankful.

American Dunkirk

Harvey, the Cajun Navy, Monster Trucks, Texas Grit and the American Way

Eventually, the flood of toxic identity politics and snowflake sensibilities gets washed away by the real thing – like Hurricane Harvey and the biblical-scale flooding that devastated Houston and large portions of the Texas coast. Forty died (sadly, more will be found), more than 100,000 homes were severely damaged or destroyed, half-a-million cars were lost, and the preliminary damage estimates exceed $125 billion (worse than Katrina and Sandy combined). Coming on the heels of the deeply divisive debate over offending statuary and violent clashes between Klansmen, Nazis and Antifa Anarchists, Harvey reminded us all of what is important – and of how profoundly good America’s people and its free enterprise system are. All levels of government and our military performed admirably. And in true American fashion, ordinary citizens also reported for duty to do the extraordinary. The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening

Coming on the heels of the deeply divisive debate over offending statuary and violent clashes between Klansmen, Nazis and Antifa Anarchists, Harvey reminded us all of what is important – and of how profoundly good America’s people and its free enterprise system are. All levels of government and our military performed admirably. And in true American fashion, ordinary citizens also reported for duty to do the extraordinary. The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening

The “Cajun Navy” and the “Monster Truck” brigade – thousands of ordinary American citizens rode to the rescue of fellow Americans trapped by life-threatening flood waters with every type of boat and large vehicle. Every hero came with his own boat or truck, entirely assuming the risk and cost of helping fellow countrymen in need. No room for identity politics here; no one asked about race, color or creed in giving or receiving assistance.

Just like Dunkirk, where the British people rose to duty in their own vessels – of all sizes and types – to save their trapped troops and thus prevent the loss of their nation, so too the “Cajun Navy,” the “Monster Truck” brigade, and every American who rushed to the aid of their fellow countrymen, have shown us what is important in life and what is best about America.

All of us at SoldierStrong salute the fight and determination of Texas and the America spirit. To Harvey and all of our adversaries: “E Pluribus Unum” – we are “One” – and now and ever, AmericaStrong!

SoldierStrong and Fraternal Order of Eagles Partner Donate Exoskeleton to CHI Health Rehabilitation Institute

SoldierStrong and Fraternal Order of Eagles Partner to Donate State-of-the-Art Exoskeleton to CHI Health Rehabilitation Institute

Only exoskeleton device cleared for both stroke and SCI rehabilitation is now available to help Nebraska-area veterans and patients to stand up and walk

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SoldierStrong, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advanced medical technologies to veterans, today announced that in partnership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, it will be donating an EksoGT™ exoskeleton, to the CHI Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Institute. The donation ceremony, which will include a patient demonstration, will take place at the center on Monday, August 28th at 1:30 p.m.

“We are grateful for the generosity of these national organizations and for their commitment to helping veterans,” said Larry Niemann, Director of Rehabilitation Service, CHI Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Institute. “This heartfelt donation will help our rehabilitation program deliver even more leading treatments to our patients, many of whom are veterans, to help them to stand up and relearn to walk.”

Manufactured by Ekso Bionics®, the EksoGT is the first and only exoskeleton cleared by the FDA for use with stroke and spinal cord injuries from L5 to C7. The suit’s patented technology provides the ability to mobilize patients earlier, more frequently and with a greater number of high intensity steps. With SmartAssist™ software, the EksoGT is the only exoskeleton available for rehabilitation institutions that can provide adaptive amounts of power to either side of the patient’s body, challenging the patient as they progress through their continuum of care.

This is the third time Fraternal Order of Eagles and SoldierStrong have collaborated to raise funds, purchase and donate an EksoGT device to rehabilitation programs serving injured U.S. veterans. Together, the organizations raise $150,000 for the purchase of each device they donate.

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with SoldierStrong. Our combined efforts are impacting lives in a truly meaningful way,” said Tom McGrath, Grand Worthy President, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

“SoldierStrong is pleased to help CHI Health better serve their community,” said Chris Meek, co-founder and Chairman of SoldierStrong. “We are honored to partner again with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, an organization that shares our unwavering commitment to helping as many of our service members as possible.”

About CHI Health
CHI Health is a regional health network with a unified mission: nurturing the healing ministry of the Church while creating healthier communities. Headquartered in Omaha, the combined organization consists of 14 hospitals, two stand-alone behavioral health facilities, more than 150 employed physician practice locations and more than 14,000 employees in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.

CHI Health is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a national nonprofit health system based in Englewood, Colorado.

The faith-based system operates in 18 states and includes 103 hospitals, as well as long-term care, assisted- and residential living communities; community health services organizations; home health agencies and outpatient facilities and services.

In fiscal year 2016, CHI provided more than $1.1 billion in financial assistance and community benefit. CHI generated operating revenues of $15.9 billion and has total assets of approximately $22.7 billion.

About SoldierStrong
SoldierStrong, previously known as SoldierSocks, helps American patriots literally take their next steps forward. Through educational scholarships and by harnessing the most innovative technology in advanced rehabilitation, we help our returning service men and women to continue moving in the only direction they should know – forward. Nearly every dollar SoldierStrong receives goes towards direct support of American patriots so that they can re-acclimate to civilian life. Our organization works to remind those men and women who sacrificed so much that we are forever thankful.

Our security depends on our brave troops who run into the fight…

Our security depends on our brave troops who run into the fight…

There’s a bit of battle-tested wisdom we need to keep in mind when asking what needs to be done about threats to our nation’s security like the one coming from North Korea. Whatever mix of diplomacy, sanctions or military posturing is used, ultimately our security depends on this simple fact:

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

Students of the Second World War will recognize the quote as coming from either George Orwell or Winston Churchill. More important than who said it first is the context in which it was said. As Hitler built his military and signaled his ill intent, Europe slept and America chose to stay away from the fight. Appeasement and abdication of responsibility led to war then, and they have not worked today. In fact, they have never worked. Every time we look away from the danger in the hopes that someone else will do the heavy lifting, we only increase the cost and pain of what is sure to come. Whenever we act, this simple but profound truth holds: our security ultimately depends on brave troops who run into the fight while the rest of us sleep safely in our beds far from it.

SoldierStrong is dedicated to supporting those brave men and women who ran into the fight and now need help to stand on their own two feet again. They did their part; now we must do ours.

“We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes, And Our Sacred Honor…”

“We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes, And Our Sacred Honor…”

With this last sentence of our Declaration of Independence, the fifty-six signers of that document not only committed themselves to uncompromising, complete devotion to the American Republic, but they also charted a path for all patriots to come. When the signers of the Declaration committed themselves to this pledge, they also signed the warrants for their own doom at the hands of the greatest military force the world had known to that point. It’s not that they did not know whether Washington and the Continental Army would be successful. Quite to the contrary; there was little reason to believe they would. This is what makes their commitment so very courageous.

No living American knows this feeling because our material capacity and warfighting capability exceed that of any adversary who has fought us or would consider doing so. The only question to answer today is whether we have the will to defeat our adversaries. Too many of the elected officials who commit our armed forces to the defense of our nation and our principles speak of every goal with the exception of the one that counts most: complete victory over our adversaries. But those who have taken the pledge of our founders when they accepted the solemn responsibility to defend our Republic are the most clear-eyed and committed to the ultimate goal: victory.

Reagan was once asked about his goal in the Cold War. His answer: “we win, they lose.” Well said, Mr. President. Let’s stand with the soldiers who win for us.

SoldierStrong stands with our heroes! Join us in supporting our military veterans by donating today.

Donate to SoldierStrong

 

 

A Republic…if you can keep it….

“A Republic…if you can keep it….”

That’s how Benjamin Franklin responded to a question asking what kind of government the Constitutional Convention of 1787 created. The ancient Greeks and Romans tried something similar and it ended in dictatorship and collapse, as increased prosperity dulled the lessons of the past and the virtues that built prosperity. Entitlement, grievance, factionalism, debt, and disunity killed those attempts at empowerment of the people. But Franklin and his fellow Founders thought America could be different (the motto of the great seal of the fledgling United States: “Novus Ordo Seclorum” – “A New Order of the Ages”). Their constitution, the first written one in history, limited government and made clear that the people were the source of its power. For this experiment in popular sovereignty to succeed, however, the people would need to be virtuous in word and deed. Honesty, thrift, devotion to hard work, service for the common good, love of country, and a solemn respect for and gratitude to the Almighty for liberty’s blessings had to be taught and reinforced. Over 230 years, this approach has yielded spectacular successes. No nation in history has been as prosperous at home or liberated as many abroad. But our contemporary challenges are mounting and our sense of virtuous purpose is in question. Rather than debate the symptoms of our national malady, our preference is to focus on the cure.

We are SoldierStrong, a not-for-profit created to purchase and put in-place the most technologically sophisticated and effective rehabilitative mechanisms to help those heroes who have sustained catastrophic spinal chord injuries while defending our nation. Though our first priority is to raise funds to purchase exoskeletal rehab suits for use by injured vets, we’ll be writing in this space to raise important lessons from our national past to keep strong our shared virtues and the patriotism necessary to win the future. Thanks for reading, please let us know your thoughts, and we hope you stay with us as our mission for our veterans and our nation continues.

Our next essay will consider “Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor” – The Founders on Character and Virtue and what it should mean to us today. See you then!