American Valor Quarterly Issue 10 - Summer 2013 | Page 5

The American Veterans Center’s
15th Annual Conference
This past October 25-27, America’s greatest veterans and active
duty service members gathered in Washington, DC as part of
the American Veterans Center and World War II Veterans
Committee’s 15th Annual Conference. The conference, held at
the United States Navy Memorial’s Arleigh Burke Theater,
featured such acclaimed veterans as former Chairmen of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell and General Richard
Myers, the legendary Doolittle Raiders from World War II, heroes
of the Battle of Midway, Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta - the first
living Medal of Honor recipient for valor in Afghanistan, and
many more. The conference - along with the National Memorial
Day Parade - is the highlight of the AVC’s year, and it proved to
be a fantastic weekend for all in attendance.

Pictured above, a packed audience at the U.S. Navy Memorial
engages in a live webcast conversation with troops serving on the
front lines in Afghanistan. This special conversation allowed the
audience to speak directly to four servicemen about life in
Afghanistan, combat in today’s military, and how our men and
women in uniform are making a difference in that country’s future.
For the third year in a row, the AVC’s annual conference opened
with a program titled The Wounded Warrior Experience (pictured
right). The program, hosted by Fox News National Security
Correspondent Jennifer Griffin, features a discussion with active
duty and retired service members who have dealt with both
physical injuries and psychological wounds while serving our
country, and offers resources for veterans who need assistance
with these issues.

The Wounded Warrior Experience is filmed for a special Veterans
Day television broadcast on The Pentagon Channel, airing to our
troops stationed around the world and in millions of homes across
the country. It can also be watched online by visiting
www.woundedwarriorexperience.com.
Pictured left, in an emotional moment of the discussion Justin
O’Donnell, U.S. Navy veteran of Iraq, is comforted by Kim
Ruocco of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
Like so many deployed service members, O’Donnell came home
from deployment suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, having
been diagnosed only a few months prior to the program taping.
He wished to share his story so others may have the courage to
seek the assistance they need. Ruocco is Director of the Suicide
Postvention Program for TAPS, a position she rose to following
the suicide of her own husband, who served as a military aviator
and also suffered from PTS.

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Spring 2013 - 5