Blog Post

1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Come Together at Baltimore Orioles' Game
Posted by Isabel Black on August 8 2011

On Tuesday, 1,000 IAVA Member Veterans and their families will attend the Baltimore Orioles's game at Camden Yards. The event is part of IAVA and Miller High Life's Give a Veteran a Piece of the Highlife campaign which is a national campaign geared towards giving veterans unique experiences to share with their fellow vets and families.

WHAT: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Miller High Life have teamed up for the second year to give vets a “Piece of the High Life.”  On August 9th, 1,000 IAVA Member Veterans and their families will attend the Baltimore Orioles game versus the Chicago White Sox.  IAVA Member Veteran, Daniel Everett, will throw out the first pitch.


WHEN: Tuesday, August 9, 2011. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m.


WHERE: Camden Yards, 333 West Camden St, Baltimore, MD 21201
.

WHO: 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families will be attending the game, along with IAVA staff and representatives.

Some notable Member Veterans and IAVA staff available for on-field interviews include:

Daniel Everett: Daniel, a second generation Marine, followed his father to serve in the USMC. From July 2000 to July 2005 Daniel served with Marine Wing Communications Squadron-28, Headquarters Company, Communications Platoon in Cherry Point, North Carolina as an Electronics Communications M. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in January 2003 and in January 2005. He attended the University of Maryland on the Montgomery GI Bill and currently works as a Licensed Financial Support Staff for Allstate. Daniel is a native of Smithsburg, MD and a life long Oriole fan; his favorite Oriole moment is attending Cal Ripken's record breaking 2131st consecutive game with his father.

Todd Bowers: Todd is IAVA’s Senior Policy Advisor and works as a liaison to members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, and other government agencies. Todd served two tours in Iraq as a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant with the United States Marine Corps, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation medal with “V” device for Valor. In April 2009, he deployed for a third tour to Afghanistan as a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves.  He studied Middle Eastern Affairs and Arabic at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Tom Tarantino: Tom is a former Army Captain who left service in 2007 after 10 years. He returned from Iraq in 2006 after one year of deployment with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Tom served in combat as both a cavalry and mortar platoon leader, and was awarded the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star. Tom graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002 with a degree in Global Studies and International Relations. As Senior Legislative Associate, Tom assists with IAVA’s research and policy through coordination with Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, and governmental organizations.

Matt Colvin: Matt is a Strategic Partnerships Fellow at IAVA. He served two tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the U.S. Air Force. From 2005 to 2006, he served in Karsh Kanabad AB, Uzbekistan and later Bagram, Afghanistan as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist Mission Crew Supervisor working in electronic warfare. After his tours, he helped co-found a successful custom longboard company called Bustin Boards. Currently, he is pursuing his degree in marketing at the University of Phoenix while working as the Marketing Director at Ogden Clothing. He also serves as the Director of Veterans Affairs at the nonprofit Adaptive Action Sports and works part-time supporting the Membership team at IAVA. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, he is interested in working in the nonprofit sector to help more veterans start their own companies.

Jason Hansman: Jason enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2000 and was deployed to Mosul, Iraq in 2004.  After his tour in Iraq he completed his Bachelors in Political Science at The University of Washington.  Jason was honorably discharged from the Army in 2009 and currently serves as IAVA’s Acting Membership Director. Anthony Pike: Anthony enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 2000.  He served his first Iraq tour in Baghdad beginning in January 2004.  In March 2006, Anthony deployed for a second tour to Ramadi, Iraq.  He recently completed his bachelor's degree in aviation at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anthony currently serves as IAVA’s Membership Coordinator helping to manage outreach to our 100,000 Member Veterans nationwide.

Laura Araujo: Laura is an Army combat veteran and currently serves in the US Army Reserve. Laura deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as a Combat Media with the 86th CSH from October 2007 until January of 2009. After separation from active duty in June of 2009, she used her Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to finish school. In May of 2011, she graduated from California State University Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science degree, where she double majored in Criminal Justice and Sociology with a minor in Forensic Studies. Laura currently interns with IAVA’s policy team in Washington DC.

Ramsey Sulayman: Ramsey joined the Marine Corps in 1998. He is a Major in the Marine Corps and is still in the Marine Corps Reserve. He deployed with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as an infantry platoon commander and a company executive officer. He attended the University of Toledo for graduate and undergraduate school. Ramsey owned his own construction company before deciding to attend law school after returning from his last deployment. He is currently an intern in the policy department in IAVA’s Washington office.

The "Give a Veteran a Piece of the High Life" campaign encourages Americans to take action and support this generation of veterans by collecting Miller High Life and Miller High Life Light bottle caps and can tabs. Miller High Life is donating 10 cents for specially marked caps or tabs returned to participating retail accounts or via mail between June 1 and September 30, 2011. Proceeds will go directly toward providing veterans with a variety of memorable "High Life” experiences. A national commercial created specifically for this campaign was filmed with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and Windell Middlebrooks, the famous Miller High Life delivery guy. The commercial is airing nationally on ESPN, Comedy Central and many more stations.
 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans can visit The Rucksack to find unique "High Life” experiences in their community and to request tickets. Veterans must be confirmed (paperwork-certified) IAVA members to gain access to these events and opportunities. The Rucksack also gives partners, sponsors or individuals a platform to provide experiences to returning veterans nationwide. 


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