The “Friends of Rocky Versace” will host the 15th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Alexandria on Friday, 11 November 2016 at 1:00 PM.  The approximately 1-hour indoor Ceremony will honor POW/MIA and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient CPT HR “Rocky” Versace, MIAs SSG Douglas Blodgett, Maj Joseph Davies, Maj Morgan Donahue, 1LT Leland McCants, Seaman Apprentice John Winkler, the 60 other Alexandrians who died during the Vietnam War, all our POW/MIAs as well as all Veterans in attendance.

Location is indoors at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in the City of Alexandria, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. (intersection of Commonwealth and Mt Vernon Aves.).

Website:    http://www.virginia.org/Listings/Events/VeteransDayCeremonyAlexandria/

​LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville and adidas today unveiled the ‘Young Patriot’ pack, featuring the Primeknit alternate football uniform and the adizero 5-Star 6.0 x KEVLAR® and FREAK x KEVLAR® cleats. The special edition pack pays homage to the nation’s active duty members and veterans, while creating a bold alternate look for the Cardinals for their game against Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
The game serves as Louisville’s annual Military Appreciation Game salute to honor those who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces.  Over 1,500 tickets have been generously donated by BAE Systems of Louisville and Humana to distribute to active duty soldiers, Veterans, and their families.

During the game, Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will dedicate an unoccupied chair that is to remain perpetually empty. The Chair of Honor will pay tribute to the more than 91,000 service members who are POW and MIA since World War I – including current POWs.

The Chair of Honor, which will be permanently installed on the east terrace, will be accompanied by a plaque that reads: “This unoccupied chair honors those who are Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) and symbolizes there will always be a place in this stadium awaiting their return. You will never be forgotten. Dedicated November 2016 by the University of Louisville Cardinals.”

The 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Fighter Pilot Award winners received engraved knives from Shine’s family during a ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Aug. 11, 2016. Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, left, the Air Combat Command Headquarters director of operations, presented the winners their awards with the Shine family. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. R. Alex Durbin)

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) — Pilots from across the Air Force gathered for the 2015 Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Fighter Pilot Award ceremony here Aug. 11.The award is presented annually to recognize an exceptional Air Force fighter pilot who has proven excellence and professionalism in flight, as well as dedication to community service.“These pilots continue to be men who serve for more than themselves,” said Colleen Shine, daughter of Lt. Col. Shine, the award’s namesake. “They have devoted hours to their community and to the communities where they were deployed.”Colleen’s mother established the award when her husband, an A-7 Corsair II pilot, did not return home from the Vietnam War. Colonel Shine was missing in action for 24 years, and in 1996 his remains were repatriated and honored with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Colleen continues to raise awareness for those who are prisoners of war or MIA, by focusing attention on the plight of America’s prisoners and missing not only in Vietnam but also from World War II and the Korean War. The prestigious award continues to honor her father’s legacy while bringing awareness to his fate.