Hundreds of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to Attend Washington Nationals' Baseball Game with Windell Middlebrooks, Miller High Life Delivery Guy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 15, 2011

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NEW YORK- Tomorrow, 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, will bring hundreds of Member Veterans and their families to the Washington Nationals game as part of IAVA’s national campaign with Miller High Life to give vets a “Piece of the High Life.”

The second year of the campaign has sponsored massive events all summer long in cities ranging from Los Angeles to Raleigh to Baltimore. Over five hundred Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families will attend the Nationals game, with one delivering the line-up card and one throwing out the first pitch. IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff will call “Play Ball!” and Miller High Life Delivery Guy and Spokesman Windell Middlebrooks will be in attendance. Both will be available for interviews. 

“Through the ‘Give a Veteran a Piece of the High Life’ campaign, Miller High Life is giving new vets a fun way to connect with each other in easy and meaningful ways. In the second year of this program, we hope to replicate these enormous successes and reach many more veterans than before.” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.  “The presence of these hundreds of vets together at a Washington Nationals game will show Congress and the rest of the country the power and reach of this generation of veterans. The scope of this program also allows IAVA to expand outreach and provide employment resources to the thousands of veterans who may be struggling to make the transition from combat to career - as veteran unemployment hits 12.4%. IAVA is incredibly grateful to have the support of Miller High Life and the Washington Nationals. They’ve got our back!”


“With the outpouring of support new veterans received last year through our ‘Give a Veteran a Piece of the High Life’ program, we knew it was important to continue bringing vets unique experiences – we believe in doing more than just writing a check,” said Miller High Life Brand Manager Brendan Noonan. “Americans will be enjoying a beer or two at their summer barbeques, picnics and tailgates, so why not toast to the troops and veterans and make it a High Life in support of our nation’s veterans?”


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

Staff Sergeant Clint Larkins: Clint enlisted in the active duty Army in 2001 at the age of 21. He was stationed in Germany, South Korea and around Iraq. He is currently in school on the GI Bill pursuing an aviation degree.  He is from Baltimore, MD. Clint will deliver the line-up card.

Specialist Keith Riggs: Keith joined the US Army reserves in 1985 while stationed at Fort Meade, MD.  He later transferred to active duty and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC.  In 2004, he deployed to Iraq and served as a turret gunner as apart of the Area Reaction Force and was discharged from service in 2009. He currently works at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, DC Museum in their security division. He is from Oxon Hill, MD. Keith will throw out the first pitch.

Paul Rieckhoff: Paul is the Founder and Executive Director of IAVA.  He served as a First Lieutenant and infantry rifle platoon leader in the Iraq war from 2003-2004. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Chasing Ghosts. Prior to going to Iraq, Paul worked as a high school football coach and an Investment Banking Analyst on Wall Street.  He received a BA in Political Science from Amherst College in 1998 and lives in New York City.

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.

Matt Gallagher: Matt is a former Army Captain who left service in 2009. He spent fifteen months in Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division as a cavalry scout platoon leader and a targeting officer, and was awarded the Combat Action Badge.  His war memoir, Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War, was published in 2010.  Matt is the Senior Writing Manager at IAVA.

Chandra Banks: Chandra currently works in IAVA’s Washington office conducting research and analysis on veteran issues.  She is a recent graduate of Hood College where she received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Studio Arts. While at Hood College her research concentration was on the female deployment experience.  Chandra, an Iraq veteran, deployed in 2003 during the initial invasion and again in 2005.  While deployed she provided signal support as part of the 440th Signal Battalion.  Last month, Chandra was one of three IAVA members to join President Obama on-stage to announce the White House’s new veterans employment initiative. 

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. 

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 like NASCAR, MLB and NFL tickets. 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 TheRucksack.org 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 Rucksack events and opportunities. Once confirmed, members are then connected with IAVA’s innovative GI Bill, mental health and employment support information, programs and products. The Rucksack also gives corporate partners, sponsors and individuals a platform to provide experiences to returning veterans nationwide. To date, The Rucksack has distributed over 13,000 experiences to veterans and their families nationwide.

If you are a member of the media who wishes to attend the Nationals’ game and arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, or another Member Veteran attending the game, please contact Isabel Black at (212) 982-9699 or isabel@iava.org. 

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.