Operation Caring Classroom and Congressman Duncan Hunter Reach Out to Local Elementary Students

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, November 10, the Armed Forces Foundation will host Congressman Duncan Hunter of California's 52nd  at El Cajon's Lexington Elementary for a visit with students in connection with Operation Caring Classroom. Congressman Hunter, a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghan wars will speak with students about the significance of Veterans Day and visit with classrooms for individual discussions.

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This year's West Coast OCC events are sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance. A natural fit as administrator of TRICARE, the military's healthcare program in California and 20 other western states, Operation Caring Classroom compliments TriWest's mission of supporting the military community.

"America's military kids carry a lot on their shoulders," said David J. McIntyre, president and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance. "Operation Caring Classroom helps us to recognize and appreciate the challenges and sacrifice these kids endure in support of their parents' service to our country. We are proud to join Congressman Hunter and the Armed Forces Foundation to show our unwavering support—inside of the classroom and outside—with services and resources available 24/7 to support the entire military family."

Who: Lexington Elementary students, Congressman Hunter, representatives from TriWest Healthcare Alliance and the Armed Forces Foundation.

What: Veterans Day celebration and discussion

When: Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Where: Lexington Elementary, El Cajon, CA

Why: Provide elementary aged children with insight into the meaning and significance of Veterans Day.

Veterans Day allows us the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice and dedication the members of our nation's armed services show every day. However, we should also recognize that for every soldier stationed overseas, a family waits behind, and the children in these families bear a tremendous share of the burden of military service. Every year, throughout the week of Veterans Day, the Armed Forces Foundation hosts Operation Caring Classroom, a nationwide education initiative designed to recognize military students for their service while raising awareness among civilian students about the sacrifices of their peers. The program also educates students on the meaning of Veterans Day through a DVD series wherein prominent Service Members discuss their service and what Veterans Day means to them.

About the Armed Forces Foundation

The Armed Forces Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing solace to members of the Armed Forces community during their time of greatest need. For more information, visit www.armedforces.org.

About TriWest

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the healthcare needs of 2.7 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region. Follow TriWest on Twitter and Facebook, or visit www.triwest.com for more information.

SOURCE Armed Forces Foundation