CSAH and Legion Team Up to Help Wounded Warriors on Thanksgiving

The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and The American Legion are giving $120,000 in Thanksgiving checks to 2,000 wounded veterans and servicemembers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes (CSAH) and The American Legion are joining forces to ensure that 2,000 military veterans and servicemembers – severely wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq – get to enjoy a special meal at Thanksgiving with those closest to them.

During the week of Nov. 14, the two non-profit organizations will be mailing out 2,000 gift checks worth $60 each to disabled veterans or servicemembers across the country, so they can use the money to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. The funds come from charitable contributions made to the CSAH, which has been providing emergency financial aid and other support services since 2004 to veterans injured in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"Our donors feel very strongly that these brave men and women should not only be assisted with rebuilding their lives, but also recognized for the sacrifices they have made to defend our freedoms. And what better time to do that than on Thanksgiving?" said David Walker, chairman of the CSAH's board of directors. "We are very grateful to The American Legion for helping us identify so many deserving recipients of these checks, and enabling us to deliver them promptly and efficiently."

Peter Gaytan, executive director of The American Legion in Washington, said, "Once again, we are honored to join with the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes in such a worthwhile undertaking. Thanksgiving is a time when all Americans take stock of their many blessings. One of those blessings everyone should appreciate is the dedication of our men and women in uniform who protect our country's liberties with their lives."

In addition to this year's joint initiative with The American Legion, the CSAH will be providing another 1,000 checks of equal value to severely wounded veterans and servicemembers listed in the organization's own records. That will bring to nearly 8,000 the number of Thanksgiving gift checks the CSAH has distributed since 2009. The Connecticut-based organization also provides wounded servicemembers with checks of varying amounts for other holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.

About the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping severely wounded troops from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The mission of the organization is to enable these servicemen and women to transition from the battlefront to the home front and to provide them and their families with the assistance needed to get their lives back on track.

For more information on how the CSAH can help you or to learn how you can help, please visit the organization's website at www.saluteheroes.org.

About The American Legion

With a current membership of 2.4 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation. The Legion's national staff works with Congress and federal agencies for the benefit of veterans, servicemembers and military families.

For more information about The American Legion and its programs, go to www.legion.org.

SOURCE The American Legion