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To honor and give thanks to the courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Princess Cruises is launching a fundraising sailing which is expected to generate $1 million for two charities committed to U.S. veterans — the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc. and Operation Homefront Inc. 

 

Princess President and CEO Alan Buckelew, a Vietnam veteran himself, will be on board to host the cruise. He will be joined by special guests Admiral Mullen, former Army Chief of Staff General George Casey (Ret.), former Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz (Ret.), and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead (Ret.), who will each host military branch gatherings throughout the voyage. The senior officers’ wives, Deborah Mullen, Sheila Casey, Suzie Schwartz and Ellen Roughead will take part in a panel discussion centered on the lives of military families and the changing roles and challenges of spouses before, during and after deployment.

In addition, guest lecturers on the cruise will include:

 

  • Award-winning journalist and decorated combat correspondent Joe Galloway. He is one of America’s premier war and foreign news reporters. A former military affairs consultant for Knight-Ridder newspapers and co-author of We Were Soldiers Once and Young, Galloway reported for UPI during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star for carrying wounded soldiers to safety during the 1965 Battle of la Drang. General Norman Schwarzkopf called Galloway “…the finest combat correspondent of our generation.”

 

  • Speaker and veterans’ advocateJustin Constantine. Constantine joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998 after graduating from law school. He left active duty in 2004, but two years later, as a Marine Reservist, volunteered for deployment to Iraq. While on a routine patrol, he was seriously wounded – shot in the head by a sniper. Thanks to the heroic efforts of a young Navy Corpsman and his own warrior spirit, Constantine is alive today and as a highly sought-after speaker and veteran’s advocate, spreading a message of awareness, courage and resiliency.

 

  • The soldier who sent the message ending World War II in Europe, Gregory Melikian. As a young sergeant with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces staff headquartered in France in 1945, Melikian was a telegraph operator under command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. At 3:30 p.m. on May 7, 1945, it was Melikian who was chosen to announce the unconditional surrender of Germany and the end of WWII in Europe.

 
Map of Cruise This 4-day Western Caribbean cruise from Houston, Texas departing November 5, 2013 will offer passengers the opportunity to honor both those who have served in the military, as well as active duty military personnel. We all know someone – whether it's a friend, a family member or neighbor - who has served or who is currently serving in the military. This is our chance to support their efforts, and it's as easy as taking a cruise to the Caribbean. Princess Cruises is dedicated to matching every dollar donated, up to $500,000.
A portion of every cruise fare ranging from $100 to $300 per person, depending on stateroom category, will be evenly donated on your behalf to the two Section 501(c)(3) exempt public charities and is tax deductible. If you join us, Princess Cruises will provide you with a written acknowledgment of your charitable contribution for your tax records. Don't hesitate for your chance to join this very special opportunity - book now.
As part of Princess Cruises' ongoing Military Cruise Benefit Program, active and retired military personnel choosing to book this cruise will receive a $50 onboard credit.

 

RELATED LINKS

Read the official release from Princess Cruises

Visit the official site on Princess Cruises

Read the inspiring story of Vietnam veterans and Princess CEO, Alan Buckelew

 

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    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund takes our stewardship of your donations seriously. The programs we fund are designed to help us achieve our mission of preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.