All the Way Home: Tri-State Veterans Conference

All the Way Home: Tri-State Veterans Conference

http://www.allthewayh...

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Five Flags Center
Dubuque, Iowa
Purpose: To thank our veterans for their military service, and to showcase federal, state, and local programs and services specially geared toward veterans' issues. The VA will have numerous program stations and educational opportunities, including breakout sessions on PTSD and TBI.
Participating Organizations: Dubuque Veterans Administration, Tri-State Vietnam Veterans, AmVets Post 13, VFW Post 6, Mental Health America, Iowa Workforce Development, VFW Post 9663, American Red Cross, United Auto Workers, Marine Corps League, Telegraph Herald, Veterans and Military Families for Progress (VMFP), NAMI, Catholic Charities, Hillcrest Family Services, Radio Dubuque, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, United States Armed Forces.
Speakers: (awaiting signed contracts)
Rocky Bleier, Vietnam Veteran, wounded in combat and returned to again play as a runningback with the Champion Pittsburg Steelers.
Rocky Bleier - Biography
DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE..
Charlie Plumb, Vietnam Veteran, POW
Captain Charlie Plumb graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis and went on to fly the F-4 Phantom jet on 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam. On his 75th mission, with only five days before he was to return home, Plumb was shot down, captured, tortured, and imprisoned in an 8 foot x 8 foot cell. He spent the next 2,103 days as a Prisoner Of War in communist prison camps.

Speakers: Committed to participate
Patricia Kerr,
Pat Rowe Kerr
State Veterans Ombudsman and
Director of Operation Outreach
Missouri Veterans Commission
205 Jefferson Street, PO Drawer 147
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0147
In 2003 when the Global War on Terror began, Pat Kerr and her husband, Rev. John Kerr began creating awareness of gaps in the system supporting National Guard and Reservists. She now serves as the State Veterans Ombudsman for the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Director of a program designed to outreach to National Guard, Reserve and their families through a program called ?Operation Outreach.? She is the mother of a Reservist deployed to Iraq for her second tour of duty. Pat and her husband John care for Capt. Numerick?s 4 year old son while she is serving her country.
Missouri State Veterans Ombudsman Pat Kerr has been appointed to a 3 year term with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri. With the number of injured returning with traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress her involvement will be of value to service members and their families.

She also recently received recognition from Major General Rita M. Broadway, U.S. Army Reserve, Commanding, in a letter to the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission, stating:

" The Missouri State Veterans Ombudsman Program has been a leader in this movement. This program has served our command on many levels. Issues ranging from providing childcare arrangements, finding home maintenance assistance, to grants for injured solders, have all been tackled by the Ombudsman Program. In particular, Pat Rowe Kerr has gone far above and beyond the call of duty to assist our Soldiers and families in times of dire need. Her persistence in finding the means to help, her coordination, and her ceaseless search for new avenues of support greatly improved our capabilities to aid our Soldiers and families. She is an incredible "goodwill ambassador" and I commend her remarkable work."
Entertainment: Local Bands, Numerous Activities for kids, and much more in development.
Admission is FREE.
Each attending family will receive a free event tote bag.
Speakers will be available to meet attendees and sign autographs.
Honorary Co-Chairs:
Eldon Herrig, Navy Veteran, Distinguished local businessman
Brigadier General Robert Felderman, Distinguished local businessman