Diverse News 2007®

		Robert E. Wallace, VFW Executive Director (taller man on left) and John Melia, Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director (on right). (PRNewsFoto/Wounded Warrior Project) JACKSONVILLE, FL UNITED STATES 05/02/2007

--WWP Receives Accreditation From Nationally Recognized Organization-- JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a non-profit organization aimed at assisting the men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during the war on terrorism, has joined together with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The partnership will promote the timely delivery of disability benefits administered by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for those members of the current conflicts including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror. "Wounded Warrior Project is honored to partner with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. That the largest organization of combat veterans in America has placed their trust in WWP's abilities as advocates for this latest generation of wounded soldiers validates our mission in a powerful way," stated Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director, John Melia. Wounded Warrior Project offers services and programs like combat stress seminars, benefits counseling, adaptive sports opportunities and advocacy initiatives to aid in the transition from hospital bed to an independent productive life. Many of the injuries suffered during the war are amputations, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and severe burns that will retire these brave warriors from military service. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a nationally recognized veterans' service organization that helped 107,000 veterans to recoup almost $1 billion in government-earned compensation and pension last year. A network of more than 700 VFW-accredited service officers throughout the country provides this free service to all veterans, regardless of their membership status. VFW support to veterans also includes fraternal activities, benefits counseling, legislative advocacy, representation before the Department of Veterans Affairs, and an active involvement in the support of all servicemen and women and their families. "The VFW was proud to support TSGLI when it was first proposed by the Wounded Warrior Project two years ago," said VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace, "and we're honored that they would come to us to accredit their new service officers." Wounded Warrior Project also aims to assist the VFW in reaching out to this new generation of wounded and exposing them to the services available in their communities. John Melia and Bob Wallace are available for interviews. About Wounded Warrior Project Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a non-profit organization aimed at assisting those men and women of the United States armed forces who have been severely injured during the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world. Beginning at the bedside of the severely wounded, WWP provides programs and services designated to ease the burdens of these heroes and their families, aid in the recovery process and smooth the transition back to civilian life. For more information, please call (904) 296- 7350 or visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org. About the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Founded in 1899, the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation's oldest major veterans' service organization, and is the largest organization of combat veterans in the country. Membership consists of 2.4 million VFW and Auxiliary members in 8,500 Posts in the U.S., Latin American and Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific. For additional information or to join, call 1-800- VFW-1899 or visit http://www.vfw.org.