Founder's Blog

We are at the beginning of a new decade and many opportunities. I start 2010 harvesting my knowledge with an urge to sharing it with you.

Here I am in this photo 35 years ago, a Marine corporal, taking part of a desert field exercise at 29 Palms CA. I was stationed at Marine Air Base 11, Marine Air Group 16, El Toro CA.

I would have never thought I would be doing what I am doing now and I had other plans. I was only 18 years old and at that age, well, I know I am not alone when I admit, the moment was my future if you know what I mean.

As time passsed, I was exposed to many things, my experience and maturity developed and a new meaning of what my future is unfolded.

Fast forward 16 years to 1991 to the Gulf War and here I am in this photo at El Kibrit, now a Marine warrant officer and taking part of a war. My duties changed and my responsilities multiplied. In both tours I accounted for manpower and personnel. The first experience was to track Marines to ensure daily accountability, a paper intensive process and time consuming. The second experience, I was held directly accountable for over 14,000 Marines in a time of war leveraging technology, this was a turning point for me.

I started to realize the value of many things. I recognized that every service member had one thought during a war environment and that thought is the safety of their family and frineds back home. During war, a warrior focuses on the battlefield and prepared to sacrifice the ultimate gift, life, for others to enjoy the land of the free. A compelling thought to consider for the new decade.

This period of time influenced what I wanted to achieve in my lifetime. I learned that all those that serve are skilled with doing anything they set themselves to do. We all have a business acumen and don't even know it! Yes, we were all trained to tracking something, getting the task at hand completed and to use whatever resources we can garner to complete the mission. 

I want to ask you to join me today to make a difference in your community. I need your help to reachout to all those that you know and ask them a simple question "Do you know a Veteran?" Do you know if the Veteran is enjoying what they have earned for serving our Country? How can you confirm that? Simple, ask the Veteran if they have a VA card like the one below. And if they don't, send them our way. We will guide them to get their VA card. This is our starting point to eradicating the notion of a homeless Veteran. And perhaps to guiding them to become a Veteran business owner! Will you help me?

I just completed my thought, but as life is what it is, I lost it as my system froze and with it my written words gone! Imagine that! I always wonder why this happens to me and it does so often.

No matter, I know I won't be able to replicate what I first thought. I have captured the moment as a realization that every second in life has its meaning and necessitates the harvesting of our knowledge.

Today is celebrated around the world and a giving celebration it is. I have been blessed to have traveled the world many times. The gifts have been abundant. Not a tangible gift, but one of lasting value, my experiences. I am a believer of passing on gifts and I pray that I always have a means to do so.

I often reach backwards to understand my past and like you, I either read something I wrote or scurry through photos for a glimpse of my memories. I want to share a memory of my past and it is this photo of me taking my holy communion at age 8. I have vivid memories of that day and my prayer was simple. To always have the strength and courage to give what little I have to as many that I can reach.

Today, I thank you for the gift of knowing you. We met at some point and why you are getting my email. Who would have thought we can meet someone and not eye to eye.

As we end 2009, I reflect on what we have achieved. We have three centers across the country and have grown to be a national organization in about 18 months with the least amount of cost. Evidence that prayers are heard and my strength and courage perpetuating.

The New Year is only days away and as you contemplate your aim for 2010 do consider our aim to eradicate the notion of a homeless Veteran. We are determined to achieve that aspiration by 2035 and with your support of any kind will fuel us. Your thoughts and prayers are invaluable and we accept them as the greatest gift.

We are all a pebble in an ocean of hope and create many ripples that intersect to create giant waves that will wipe clear the causes that denies a Veteran the rights to enjoy life and give a new life for serving a Great Nation that empowers its people the Freedoms to live their life within the laws of our land.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

P.S. If you are interested to learn how best to support our aim, please send me an email.

September 26, 2009 - My journey back to California from North Carolina started with a 0500 wake up call. I felt refreshed, energized and very pleased with the visit at our third center ready to open November 11, 2009 in honor of Veterans Day. Pictured is Levi Samuels our VP of Family Readiness and property owner Ray Burnette

My first stop before I arrived to Fayatteville airport for a 1437 departure, was with Levi Samuels, our newly named Vice President of Family Readiness. We connected at 0715 for breakfast and covered the details of my trip and discussed our D-35 milestone. We are on track and expecting a good effort. The community in the Fort Bragg area are amazing and are taking ownership of their center.

I headed to the airport around noon to get settled in for the trip back home. All was going well, I did my normal routine, did some research, made some calls and contemplated plans for the next day.

My flight from Fayatteville was on time and I knew my lay over at Charlotte was a couple of hours and it afforded me the opportunity to review my thoughts on the week at Fort Bragg. Time flew by.

The plane that was scheduled for us arrived about a hour prior to our departure only to learn it was struck by lightning and was punctured. It was blessing all arrived safely. However, that meant an hour delay and if you have traveled and this happens, that usually turns into hours delay.

An 1837 departure turned into a 2100 departure. I knew my patience and tolerance needed checking so this was a good time for a quality check and I proceeded to work on "Destination: Refuse to Fail" how appropriate and timely.
While working on this, I get an email telling me my flight has changed with a 0750 departure on Sunday. I smiled and confirmed that this was truly testing my tolerance and patience. I closed my laptop, picked up my checked in luggage and picked up my new ticket for the morning. Another 0500 start day to try this again.

I wanted to share with you this part of my journey and to introduce to you our "Refuse to Fail Landscape". And I figure this was a great time to post it after enjoying this adventure back home.

We have 48 Veteran Learners that we vetted and they have taken on the task to Refuse to Fail. Some have posted their blogs and some have not and some are contemplating their destination. The Refuse to Fail Landscape is for all to enjoy and to realize when it comes down to where the rubber hits the road, we all need a script to consider to revitalize what we know we are capable of.

To learn about the Refuse to Fail Landscape just visit this link  Destination: Refuse To Fail.

I have an endless inventory of energy and I am fueled by you, there is no question about that. You have touched my life and in return I will REFUSE TO FAIL to achieve my aim to eradicate the notion of a homeless Veteran by the year 2035!
My patience and tolerance are in check, I am here to serve you 24/7, no matter where I am. I will offer you my time and resources to enrich your value and empower you so that you can empower others to reach out to Veterans of all eras so that we can influence a change and let no Veteran go homeless. They have all earned our support and alone we will fail, but together, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. Semper Fi!

Don't forget to  purchase your My Warrior Candle and keep the light burning! In doing so, we are able to open more centers across the nation!

P.S. If you haven't registered with our online community please do so by clicking Where Communities Serve Veterans. We have three types of registrations, Veteran, Grassroots and Business and each have multiple levels, register with the type and level that best suits you. In doing so your registration is a resounding vote to serve our Veterans!

"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...
give us the tools and we will finish the job!"
-Sir Winston Churchill

I just returned from one of the best workshop I have ever attended at The McCormick Catigny Estate just outside my hometown of Chicago, IL. 

There were eleven other organizations listed below that attended as well.

In the Photo is Johnny from www.Vets4Vets.us, Kate, Catherine and Sharron that hosted the event and gave an incredible presentation! Thank you!

I will create a web page soon to list all the attending organizations. This workshop is the first of its kind and a paradigm shift on a best practice on bringing like minded organizations in support of our Veteran together to create a unique partnership and perhaps create a coalition that ensures the best service possible to our men and women the preserve the freedoms of a Great Nation.

My next trip is to North Carolina followed by our grand opening at Vancouver Washington. Semper Fi,

This month ends with our first two Learners from Nevada and Vermont.

Our Learners travled to Las Vegas to attend the NAB Show and to sign on our first Learner, Steve Sanson from Las Vegas. This is a first for our Learners and not the last event we will send them on.

During their Las Vegas trip, I traveled to Vermont and met some great Americans. I attended the Vermont Military & Family Network at Newport Vermont, where I had the honor of meeting Colonel NDoye and his small delegation from Senegal Africa. I learned that Vermont on behalf of the United States have extended a cooperative with Senegal Africa and Macedonia to share how the United States provides a variety of outreach programs to our military, families and Veterans. We had a very interesting conversation and I must say, I very proud of our country for sharing ideas with other Nations.

As we end the month, we have a busy month during May in honor of Memorial Day. We plan to have our grand opening on May 24, 2009 in Vancover Vermont. This will be our second location we celebrate to empowere communities to serve Veterans.

As always, I remain your servant and I thank you for all that you do to serve our Veterans. Many Blessings, Al

During my tirp to Fort Bragg North Carolina, I had an opportunity to meet with a dear friend, Ron and his son Gage Chaffee and I was introduced to Jeff McGaffic.

They were at the Lowes Speedway, Concord North Carolina displaying their Top Fuel NHRA Funny Cars.

Ron was generous to sport our SWVBRC logo. Thank you Ron and Gage, for your continued service and support to our military.

As you can see, this Funny Car is in honor of the USS Enterprise and up close, well, it is an awesome sight!

It has been a fast paced April and I just wanted to share this experience with you. We are fueled with the support of a Nation to serve and support those that have served us! God Bless, Al