NEW YORK, NY (September 6, 2016) — Tomorrow, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will take the stage in New York City for the IAVA Commander in Chief Forum focusing on national security, military affairs, and veterans issues. Hosted by IAVA and NBC News, and simulcast in primetime on NBC and MSNBC, the forum will engage a live audience of primarily veterans, servicemembers, and military family members to ask questions of both candidates on the issues that are most important to our community. TODAY co-anchor Matt Lauer will moderate the Commander in Chief Forum and the candidates will appear on stage back-to-back from 8:00 to 9:00 PM ET.

The first general election forum featuring Clinton and Trump, the Commander in Chief Forum, will set the tone for the 62 days leading up to Election Day. Veterans are far too often used for campaign theater, only to take a back seat after a candidate is sworn into office. Since our founding in 2004, IAVA has worked to reverse that trend by holding elected officials accountable to their campaign promises — and to their moral obligation as Americans to support and honor the sacrifice of our nation’s 22 million veterans, servicemembers and their families. IAVA advocates for veterans as a non-partisan organization and is not affiliated with any political party or candidate.

In New York City and around the country, IAVA veteran leaders are hosting Vet Together watch parties. IAVA members are the leading voices among the post-9/11 generation and will be on-hand at watch parties to react to the candidates’ comments.

For official comment from IAVA CEO Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Chief of Staff Allison Jaslow or IAVA Leadership Fellow Aaron Mankin, please contact Bruce Fryer at bfryer@sanitasint.com or 202-446-1650.

IAVA’s Commander-in-Chief Forum Watch Party Locations:
• Los Angeles, CA
• Minneapolis, MN
• Nashville, TN
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Manalapan, NJ
• Pierre, SD
• Lexington, KY
• Argyle, WI
• Atlanta, GA
• San Diego, CA
• Las Vegas, NV
• San Antonio, TX
• Amherst, OH
• Plymouth, MI
• New York, NY

To attend a veteran watch party or connect with IAVA member leaders around the country, please contact Claire Owens at claireo@iava.org or 917-326-4010. Note: Comments made by IAVA members at these events do not represent IAVA’s official nonpartisan position.