FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 18, 2008
CONTACT: Kara Horowitz, IAVA (212) 982-9699 or

IAVA Executive Director Rieckhoff to Address VFW Convention Following Senators McCain and Obama and Prior to President Bush
IAVA Announces Major GI Bill Outreach Campaign

NEW YORK -This Tuesday, August 19, Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan veterans group, will address the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) convention in Orlando, FL.  As part of his major speech on veterans' issues, Rieckhoff will announce the launch of an extensive outreach campaign to help veterans take advantage of their new GI Bill benefits.  President Bush and Presidential hopefuls Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will also speak at the national gathering. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) will accept the VFW Gold Medal and Citation of Merit for his leadership on the GI Bill.

"I am honored to address the thousands of VFW members assembled. The VFW has demonstrated a clear commitment to our country's newest generation of veterans," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). "This gathering is about showing appreciation for all of the men and women who have proudly served our country and IAVA is thrilled to be a part of it." 

IAVA and the VFW worked together closely to pass the World War II-style GI Bill that was signed into law in June 2008. As part of his address, Rieckhoff will announce the launch of IAVA's new national GI Bill outreach campaign.    

"Passing a new GI Bill opened the doors of higher education to an entire generation of veterans, but now they need to know how to access the benefit," said Rieckhoff. "During the fight for the GI Bill, GIBill2008.org served as IAVA's hub of online activism and helped us mobilize tens of thousands of our members.  Now, we're relaunching the site to help veterans take advantage of the benefit they worked so hard to achieve."

www.GIBill2008.org provides America's newest generation of veterans with the tools they need to access the new GI Bill.  It includes an interactive benefits calculator that veterans can search by zip code, answers to the Frequently Asked Questions that IAVA has received from thousands of its members across the country, and the latest news and information about the new GI Bill as it goes into effect.  As part of its major outreach campaign, IAVA is running a national print advertising campaign in more than 10 newspapers targeting veterans.  The ads encourage Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to visit www.GIBill2008.org to find out about how they can benefit from the new GI Bill.

The VFW convention takes place from August 16-21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.  Paul Rieckhoff will deliver his address on Tuesday, August 19 at 10:30am.  Additional speakers include Senators Obama and McCain and President Bush. For more information, please visit www.vfw.org. The convention is open to registered and credentialed media.  To inquire about covering the convention or arranging an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or any other IAVA veterans, please contact Kara Horowitz at (212) 982-9699 or .

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and largest group for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  A non-profit and nonpartisan organization, IAVA represents more than 100,000 veteran members and civilian supporters in all 50 states.   For more information, please visit www.iava.org.

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