Actor, musician and USO performer is a long-time supporter of IAVA

New York, NY (October 17, 2014) – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing post-9/11 veterans and their families, today formally announced Henry Rollins, actor, musician and USO performer, will join IAVA’s Convoy to Combat Suicide. IAVA’s top 2014 priority is to lower the unacceptably high veterans suicide rate, and Rollins’ support will help spread awareness to their fan base as they tour the country this month.

Henry Rollins is a long-time supporter of IAVA, dating back to 2008 when Rollins spoke at IAVA’s Second Annual Heroes Gala in New York City. In 2009 IAVA released the music video “Stronger Together” on YouTube featuring Rollins as a voiceover. Rollins has also shown continuous support of IAVA coast to coast, attending the Third Annual Heroes Celebration in the spring of 2009 in Los Angeles, CA.

The Convoy to Combat Suicide is a national tour of the We’ve Got Your Back: IAVA’s Campaign to Combat Suicide, a historic, yearlong effort IAVA launched in March to address veteran suicide and improve access to quality mental health care. It brings together artists from a wide variety of musical audiences to stand with our nation’s veterans.

“IAVA is honored to work with Henry Rollins again,” said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. “Henry has been with us since the beginning, supporting us and the veterans’ community every day. He has met with many of our members over the years and heard their stories. We are privileged to have such an outstanding vets’ advocate talking about our issues front and center, elevating the unique challenges of post-9/11 veterans to his fan base.”

Throughout the Convoy, IAVA has partnered with Linkin Park, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, Miller High Life, NASCAR driver Cale Conley, Major League Baseball teams, local political, business and social leaders, and most importantly, with IAVA Leadership Fellows and local members and supporters nationwide.

IAVA members and supporters will lead and attend events in cities ranging from Scranton to Dallas to Phoenix, all focused on supporting our veterans at this critical time. The Convoy will roll through some of the cities with the highest concentrations of veterans in America, and many places profoundly impacted by the ongoing VA scandal.

In IAVA’s 2014 Member Survey 40 percent of respondents said they know at least one Iraq or Afghanistan veteran that has died by suicide and 47 percent know one that has attempted suicide.

Scheduled dates and cities currently include:

• October 18, 2014 – Cleveland, OH

• November 14, 2014 – Des Moines, IA

• November 15, 2014 – Iowa City, IA

• November 16, 2014 – Stoughton, Wisc.

All year long IAVA will activate every element of its membership, programs and partners – both on the ground and online. IAVA will incorporate this effort into everything it does from its monthly VetTogethers to its more than 500,000-person strong social media community. IAVA will empower its almost 300,000 members and supporters to serve as a ground force for outreach, support and advocacy. And it will travel the country, turning public attention to the issue of veteran suicide and promoting solutions.