Wounded Warrior Project at April 9 national event highlights need for home care benefits for family caregivers

Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2011) — Excelsior College is working with The National Cherry Blossom Festival to support WWP alumni and their families who wish to attend the annual Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

By arranging a special seating section for wounded warriors and their families, Excelsior is showing support for these veterans. WWP supports wounded vets and their families by advocating for implementation of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, which calls for stipends, training, respite, and other support for severely wounded veterans’ caregivers. Though the legislation carried a January 2011 implementation date, key elements have yet to be put into place, and family members around the country are still struggling to provide 24-hour care to these severely-injured veterans.

Excelsior counts more than a third of its nearly 30,000 students as active duty members of the military or veterans. The College provides educational accommodations and career services for veterans, including those with disabilities, enabling them to pursue and complete higher education. The College also sponsors a Military Spouse Scholarship program.

"The quality of life we afford to our wounded veterans and their families should reflect the depth of their countless sacrifices," said Excelsior President John F. Ebersole, a Vietnam War veteran and 2010 recipient of the U.S. Secretary of the Army Public Service Award, for his contributions to the Army’s educational goals. "Excelsior College is proud to support this deserving group of veterans and their families."

On May 5, 2010 President Obama signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act into law. Under the Act, families of veterans who were severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive a stipend, medical insurance, training, counseling, and respite care. WWP is actively monitoring implementation of this law, which is now mired in debate over limitations on the benefits.

"Last month, VA submitted a plan that would shrink the number of families qualifying for benefits by more than three-quarters, hitting those with cognitive and related brain-injury impairments hardest," said Steve Nardizzi, executive director of Wounded Warrior Project. "We thank Excelsior College for supporting their attendance at this special event."

More than 40,000 troops have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Wounded Warrior Project aims to make this the most successful, well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation’s history.

WWP was founded in 2003 when a group of veterans were moved by the difficult stories of the first wounded service members who returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and service to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. Get involved and learn more.