American Morning
Fisher House provides housing for military families for the holiday season
The Fisher House Foundation is giving an incredible gift to troops and their families: A home away from home for the holidays.
It provides houses for families of soldiers receiving care at military medical centers, like the Walter Reed Medical Center.
This morning on American Morning, Fisher House chairman and CEO Kenneth Fisher talks about how they're working to give military families a happy holiday.
Red Cross helps Americans show gratitude to our service members on Thanksgiving
One of the easiest ways to say thanks this year is simply writing a solider, and the Red Cross is helping to make that possible.
By visiting Redcross.org/holidaymail you can make a card on line, or you can construct your own at home.
Sam Kille, chief spokesman for the Red Cross and former Marine, sits down with American Morning’s Alina Cho to explain that receiving a card from the states while overseas is one of the simplest ways to make a soldier feel at home during the holidays.
The Red Cross requests that all cards are received by December 9th so they can be processed in time for the holidays.
McCains on a mission to help military veterans with a concert Friday in Westbury, NY
This Veterans Day, rock star performer and "Celebrity Apprentice" winner Bret Michaels will join an all-star line-up plus special celebrity guests for the "Unity for Vets" concert in New York. The show will raise money for HonorVet.org, a non-profit that helps military veterans suffering from PTSD.
HonorVet.org was co-founded by James McCain, son of Senator John McCain; his mother, Cindy McCain, also serves on the organization's advisory board.
Alina Cho talks with James and Cindy McCain about the origins of HonorVet.org and the essential services it provides to our nation's heroes.
To buy tickets for the event, visit UnityforVets.org.
USAA lists top cities for military retirees to start a second career
This coming Veterans Day, we will take a moment to honor those who have served in the armed forces. But sadly, many of our military vets are suffering in this economy. Veterans who had long military careers often struggle to transition to jobs in the civilian workforce.
This week, USAA (United Services Automobile Association) released a list of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for military retirees to start a second career. Top of the list is Oklahoma City, OK. Other cities on the list:
1. Oklahoma City, OK
2. Norfolk, VA
3. Richmond, VA
4. Austin, TX
5. San Antonio, TX
6. Madison, WI
7. Philadelphia, PA
8. Raleigh, NC
9. Omaha, NE
10. Manchester, NH
June Walbert of USAA talks with Chrstine Romans about the list and the difficulties retired service members face in trying to find work in the civilian world.
Operation 'Hero Miles' to expand frequent flier miles donation program
The road to recovery for wounded military members can be a long one. Family support, it is well known, is essential to a successful recovery. But the costs of traveling to visit a family member in a military hospital can be expensive.
The "Hero Miles" program, started in 2003, tries to ease this financial burden by allowing individuals to donate their airline miles
so military families can see their loved ones.
On American Morning, Alina Cho speaks with Fisher House Foundation Chairman and CEO Kenneth Fisher, which administers the program, to discuss how you can help this extraordinary program.
Ten years after entering Afghanistan, where does our military stand now? Gen. Odierno explains
Last Friday marked ten years since the U.S. entered Afghanistan. But with the death of Osama bin Laden and other key al-Qaeda leaders, what is the end game? The U.S. has now been in Afghanistan longer than the Soviets were. What will bring our troops home?
Stanley McChrystal, former commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, says the U.S. and its NATO allies are only "a little better than" halfway to achieving their military goals.
Turning to our defense budget, in an interview with CNN last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned about further cuts to the defense budge if Congress doesn't reach an accord on debt reduction.
This morning on American Morning, Christine Romans talks to General Ray Odierno about where our military stand today.
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