Dear Fellow American,
Do you remember the hit TV series ‘Band of Brothers’ starring Tom Hanks?
In case you don’t, it’s a story about the Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division who fought their way through some of World War II’s deadliest missions and bloodiest battles.
Well let me tell you my friend, that wasn’t fiction.
As a member of the original ‘Band of Brothers’ that inspired the TV show, I was at Normandy beach during Operation Overlord…
I parachuted into Rhine River in Operation Market Garden to liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation…
And, unlike many of the guys I called my brothers, I survived the Battle of the Bulge – the battle that ultimately gave the Allies the upper hand in World War II.
Whether by air, land, or sea, we lost a lot of good men in that war.
They laid down their life to stop the spread of tyranny and keep the world free.
And for those of us WWII veterans who were blessed to make it back home in one piece, we have a duty to make sure those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States and everything she stands for are not forgotten.
But I’ll be honest with you, I’m terrified to see what’s going on in our country today.
Over the past few years, I’ve sadly watched hundreds of my fellow brothers-in-arms pass away from old age.
And as each veteran from WWII – even Korea and Vietnam – passes away, it seems like they’re completely forgotten about.
In our schools today, younger generations aren’t taught the important sacrifices those veterans made to keep America free and prosperous.
In fact, some people are actively trying to ERASE our history and make guys like me ashamed of my service to this great country.
I know that I don’t have much time left.
That’s why I’m spending every hour I have left reaching out to folks like you and urgently ask for your help to protect American history and honor our veterans before it’s too late.
My name is Col. Ed Shames.
You see, out of the millions of Americans who served in World War II, only a small handful of us are still alive to pass down our stories to the next generation.
Stories that teach the future leaders of our country the true cost of freedom.
You and I both know that our freedom and way of life is paid for with the blood of the brave men and women who were willing to pick up arms and rush into battle.
And now I’m afraid that once we’re all gone, America will forget those important lessons – and our American identity will evaporate into thin air.
That’s why I’m so thankful for the American Veterans Center (AVC).
If you’ve ever heard of the American Veterans Center before, then you know that for the past 25 years, they’ve made it their #1 job to stand up for our American history, fight back against the historical revisionists who are trying to erase it, and preserve the legacies of veterans like me.
In May, they host the Annual National Memorial Day Parade where they honor guys like me the in front of millions of people lining the streets and watching on TV.
In November, they host an Annual Veterans Conference where they fly me and my fellow combat veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to Washington D.C. where they give us the chance to tell our stories to the hundreds of students and future military leaders in attendance.
They even send camera crews to our homes so they can record our war stories exactly how we remember them to preserve our American history for the rest of time.
And the only way they can do those things is with your help.
I cannot begin to tell you how much the American Veterans Center means to me and my fellow WWII vets.
Because of them, I know that when I eventually pass on, my stories – and the stories of the men who served by my side – will be remembered forever.
But the AVC can’t do it alone.
As a non-profit organization, they rely almost exclusively on the donations of thousands of patriotic Americans across the country who share their passion for our country’s history and our veterans.
- The Annual National Memorial Day Parade costs the AVC around $500,000
- The Annual AVC Veterans Conference and Youth Summit costs them around $600,000
- And every Oral History video they produce costs about $2,000
Each of these programs is vital to keeping our American history alive.
And if the AVC can’t raise the money to keep them going, they’ll have to be shut down.
When that happens, guys like me will be completely forgotten.
And the history of how America became the greatest country in the world will no longer be taught to the next generation.
Can I count on you?
God Bless,
Sincerely,
Col. Ed Shames
Member of Easy Company
101st Airborne Division
The mission of the American Veterans Center and the World War II Veterans Committee is to preserve and promote the legacy and experiences of America's veterans and active duty service personnel from World War II through today.
A non-profit educational organization, the AVC and WWIIVC are funded solely through generous contributions from people like you. All contributions are tax-deductible.
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1100 N. Glebe Road Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22201