Press Releases

Praises Dedication, Cooperation of Many During Groundbreaking Ceremony

SHANKSVILLE, Pa., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Before helping to break ground for a national memorial honoring the 40 heroic passengers and crew members who died aboard United Flight 93 on 9/11, Governor Edward G. Rendell recognized the sacred ground on which he stood and reiterated a commitment made earlier this year.

"This memorial will be a lasting tribute to the brave heroes of Flight 93 who fought back against the terrorists, courageously sacrificing their lives to keep their plane from being used as another weapon. Future generations of Americans will come here to be reminded of the terrible price that has been paid by so many to defend our continued freedom," Governor Rendell said.

"In February, many of us gathered to commit to completing the first phase of this memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2001 attacks. It's been a long road to this point, but thanks to the hard work and dedication of those gathered here today, as well as countless others, we are now on the path to meeting that deadline," he added.

The Governor joined for today's groundbreaking by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, other state and federal officials, local leaders, as well as family and friends of those who gave their lives.

Governor Rendell and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter signed a letter of commitment in February that will ensure the Flight 93 National Memorial is completed and dedicated by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The commitment letter also outlines target dates for design processes, bid awards and other steps necessary to complete the memorial by 2011. To date, each target has been met.

Also signing the commitment letter were representatives of the National Park Service, the Families of Flight 93 organization, the Flight 93 Advisory Commission, and the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force.

Governor Rendell has been a strong advocate for building a permanent memorial to the heroes of Flight 93. To date, state assistance for the project has totaled more than $10 million. The Governor also signed legislation officially naming Route 219 in Somerset County as "Flight 93 Memorial Highway." In 2007, the Governor announced a $120,000 state grant to pay for security at the crash site.

The memorial park sits on more than 2,200 acres in Somerset County, approximately 80 miles outside of Pittsburgh. It will encompass the crash site and include visitor facilities, infrastructure and access roadways.

More than one million people from 120 countries and all 50 states have visited the site, which currently features a temporary memorial.

For more information on the memorial, visit www.nps.gov/flni.

    Media contacts:
    Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

    WHAT:  An early Veterans Day celebration will take place when nearly 100
           men and women who once served or worked at the historic Marine
           Corps Air Station, El Toro will return to the site of the former
           base to be honored by the Orange County Great Park Board
           Corporation. The 2009 El Toro Homecoming event will honor El Toro
           military personnel, who will return to the former base with their
           families from throughout southern California and others from out of
           state for this special day.

           The El Toro Homecoming will pay tribute to those who shared and
           documented their lives and memories through the Great Park Oral
           History Program, a collaboration between the Orange County Great
           Park Corporation and California State University Fullerton's Center
           for Oral and Public History.

           Nearly 250 interviews with men and women, who were stationed at,
           Worked on or lived near the El Toro Marino Corps Air Station
           between World War II and the Korean Wars have been conducted to
           date.

    WHO:   Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation

           Sukhee Kang, Mayor, City of Irvine

           Dr. William Haddad, California State University, Fullerton, Chair,
           Department of History

           Pete Jacobs and His Wartime Radio Review

           Pre-event interviews available by request with:

           -- Ernest Buford, retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant
              Colonel.  Mr. Buford was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station
              (MCAS) El Toro from 1949-50, 1951-2, and 1957-60.  Mr. Buford
              served in both World War II and Korean War as a pilot, taking
              part in combat missions. He currently resides in Laguna Woods,
              California.

           -- Corporal Pauline Buzan arrived at MCAS El Toro in 1943 and was
              one of the first women Marines to arrive at the air base.  She
              worked in the officer's mess hall.  At the age of 79 Mrs. Buzan
              joined the Peace Corps and currently lives in Laguna Woods,
              California.

           -- Sergeant James Ley was drafted in 1951 and was assigned to MCAS
              El Toro where he spent the next year working as an airplane
              mechanic for the F4U Corsair.  Following his discharge in 1953,
              Mr. Ley returned home to Lancaster, Wisconsin where he still
              resides.

    WHEN:  Saturday, November 7, 2008
           11:00 a.m. to Noon - Interview opportunities

    WHERE: Orange County Great Park
           Hangar 244
           Off 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon
           (949) 724-6574

    WHY:   Preserve Orange County's rich military heritage through an Oral
           History Program.  Through their voices the Great Park Oral History
           Project examines Orange County's extraordinary transition from war
           to peace, from agriculture to industry, and from small towns to
           bedroom communities.

           El Toro was established in 1943 because the military needed a new
           Base to train young men going off to war.  While many of the
           stories documented as part of the Oral History Project are
           positive, there are many more that address the real the cost and
           sacrifice of war.  Many Marines trained at Marine Corps Air Station
           El Toro and served their country in the Pacific Theater.  Most came
           home, but many saw their comrades make the ultimate sacrifice.

           The Marine Base was closed in 1999 as part of the federal
           government's Base Realignment and Closure program.


    CONTACT:  JENN STARNES
              949-724-6574

/PRNewswire -- Nov. 6/

SOURCE Orange County Great Park Corporation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life Action endorses a key vote today on the House floor of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment, an Amendment that blocks any federal money from going to abortion in health care reform.

Americans United for Life Action's President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said, "Americans United for Life Action strongly supports the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment to prohibit abortion mandates and funding in HR 3962. As currently drafted H.R. 3962 fails to adequately prevent abortion coverage and funding."

H.R. 3962 explicitly allows qualifying individuals to apply their affordability credits to private insurance plans that cover abortion. The bill also permits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") to offer coverage for abortions in the Public Option. Furthermore, if the Hyde Amendment, which lapses if not renewed yearly, is ever eliminated from HHS Appropriations, the bill would mandate coverage of all abortions under the public plan. In addition, the bill also requires that at least one private plan in every premium rating area must provide coverage for all abortions.

Dr. Yoest added, "The passage of a health care reform bill with these provisions is unacceptable to pro-life Americans. We strongly encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment when it comes to the floor for a vote."

AUL Action sent a letter this morning to members of the House of Representatives expressing our deep concern over life-related provisions in the bill.

The letter alerted House Members that AUL Action will score the vote on the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment.

AUL Action will also oppose the final passage of H.R. 3962 and record the roll call vote on the final passage in our annual scorecard.

AUL Action has also alerted our pro-life grassroots network that this vote is critical to the pro-life movement and urged them to immediately contact their Congressmen.

Americans United for Life's legal analysis of H.R. 3962 is explained in detail here.

Americans United for Life Action is the legislative arm of Americans United for Life, the first national pro-life organization in America. In 1980, AUL successfully defended the Hyde Amendment before the U.S. Supreme Court in Harris v. McRae. AUL Action met with the White House in September 2009 about abortion in health care. Visit AUL Action's RealHealthCareRespectsLife.com, for background from our legal team about the current health care reform bills threat to the right to life and rights of conscience.

SOURCE Americans United for Life Action

*** Please Note Conference Call Time Change***

Washington, D.C. - Today, Saturday, November 7, 2009, Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins will host a media conference call responding to the House vote on the Stupak-Pitts-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Kaptur-Smith amendment which will determine whether abortion funding will remain in the health care overhaul bill. The conference call will take place one half hour after the vote on the abortion funding amendment. Perkins will detail the next steps in the fight to ensure the health care bill does not force taxpayers to pay for abortions for the first time in over three decades.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080930/FRCLOGO )

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's health care bill currently authorizes the government run "public option" to fund elective abortion and would subsidize private plans that cover elective abortion.

Who: Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council

Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President for FRC Action

Cathy Ruse, Senior Fellow for Legal Studies at the Family Research Council

What: Media Conference Call on House Vote on Stupak/Pitts Abortion Funding Amendment

When: 30 Minutes Following the House Vote on the Stupak/Pitts Amendment

Saturday, November 7, 2009 (or Sunday should the vote be postponed)

How: 1-866-939-8416

Participant Code 147917#

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy, +1-202-468-5265

SOURCE Family Research Council

BRANTFORD, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 7, 2009) - The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, joined citizens of Brantford today to honour Veterans at a Thank-A-Vet Luncheon. Approximately 700 people, including Veterans and youth, attended the event to mark Veterans' Week 2009.

"For generations, Canadian men and women have bravely stepped forward to serve Canada. They served with courage, with pride, and with compassion. When they finished their service, they returned home and helped build the peaceful, prosperous nation that Canada is today," said Minister Thompson. "These remarkable men and women are the reason we celebrate Veterans' Week."

This annual event honours local Veterans and their family members. It includes a remembrance ceremony with colour guard parade and luncheon. Funding of $5,000 was provided through Veterans Affairs Canada's Community Engagement Partnership Fund.

"Our Veterans are ordinary individuals who have done extraordinary things to defend our freedom. During Veterans' Week, we not only pay tribute to all Canadian Veterans, we continue to honour those who serve our country today in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict," said Phil McColeman, Member of Parliament for Brantford.

This year during Veterans' Week, from November 5 to 11, take remembrance one step further. Show how you remember by attending a Remembrance Day ceremony, visiting the local cenotaph or monument, sharing your thoughts of remembrance online, or wearing a poppy with pride. This Veterans' Week, how will you remember? Learn more at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Veterans Affairs Canada
        Shelley Fiset
        Regional Director of Communications
        705-568-4077

        Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
        Richard Roik
        Director of Communications
        613-996-4649

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada