PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE


Dear Members, It’s a brand-new year, and we’ve already accomplished so much to improve the


lives of our veterans, active-duty military and their families and communities. We teamed up with the VFW to support the Campaign to Change Direction and


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We came together to celebrate our country; its ideals,


accomplishments DQG WKH EHQHÀWV


and freedoms we enjoy thanks to


the service and VDFULÀFHV RI RXU military.


IURP $UOLQJWRQ 9LUJLQLD DQG 9): -XQLRU Vice Commander-in-Chief B.J. Lawrence to KHOS RXW DW WKH $UPHG )RUFHV 5HWLUHPHQW Home in Washington, D.C., and it was a ZRQGHUIXO H[SHULHQFH , VDZ DOO RI \RXU posts on Facebook—thank you for sharing ZKDW \RX GLG WR VXSSRUW ´$ 'D\ WR &KDQJH 'LUHFWLRQ µ ,W PDGH PH UHDOL]H WKDW WKLV is just the beginning of generating a lot of meaningful awareness around mental health and connecting veterans with the help they need. Last fall, we came together to celebrate our country; its ideals, accomplishments DQG WKH EHQHÀWV DQG IUHHGRPV ZH HQMR\ WKDQNV WR WKH VHUYLFH DQG VDFULÀFHV of our military, at one of the most iconic monuments in our country, Mount 5XVKPRUH 1DWLRQDO 0HPRULDO IRU


·V &HOHEUDWLQJ $PHULFD·V )UHHGRP (YHQW


in Keystone, South Dakota. %XW ZH FDQ DQG ZLOO GR PRUH WR SURYLGH ´8QZDYHULQJ 6XSSRUW IRU 8QFRPPRQ µ RXU YHWHUDQV DQG VROGLHUV


Heroes®


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We need to continue recruiting, but just as crucial, we must not forget about retention. We need a strong body of continuous members to remain one of the PRVW HIIHFWLYH DQG LQÁXHQWLDO YHWHUDQV VHUYLFH RUJDQL]DWLRQV LQ KLVWRU\ :H DOVR QHHG WR VWD\ FXUUHQW ZLWK GXHV $X[LOLDULHV VRPH RI RXU PHPEHUV KDG QRW SDLG WKHLU GXHV E\ 'HFHPEHU


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month! I look forward to seeing all of you aboard the Independence of the Seas® DV ZH H[SORUH WKH &DULEEHDQ DQG SODQ IRU PDQ\ VXFFHVVHV WR FRPH DQG WKH many ways we can support our heroes.


Loyally,


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Colette Bishop 1DWLRQDO 3UHVLGHQW


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