Community members and business leaders were encouraged to support their troops at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s annual ‘Salute to the Armed Forces event.’
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) served as the ‘Red, White and Blue’ sponsor of the luncheon, which was held at The Clubs at Quantico and Crossroads Events Center on the Quantico Marine Corps Base.
“We’re here because this is something that NOVEC has done for a number of years,” said NOVEC’s President and CEO Stan Feuerberg. “We’ve been supporters of a number of foundations that help vets once they come out of the service.”
Former Miss USA and Army Reservist Deshauna Barber was among the event’s speakers.
Barber, who discussed the importance of assisting veterans and those in the armed forces, mentioned a few statistics: 20,000 veterans lose their lives to suicide each day, and 39,400 veterans remain homeless.
“Would we have 220,000 veterans that are currently employed, if in fact as a country we were using every single capability and bone in our bodies?” she said. “Would these statistics be so high?”
Supporting America’s troops, Barber added, should be more than posting a picture of a flag on social media.
“The only way we in this room can impact our military and their families is if we actively encouraged the people around us to support that very effort, not because you asked them but because they feel a sense of responsibility to the ones that hold the foundation of our constitutional freedoms we have in this country,” Barber said.
See the full video here.
