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Bo
Derek to serve as 2005 Honorary Chairperson of VA’s
National Rehabilitation Special Events
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony
J. Principi announced today that actress Bo Derek
will serve once again as honorary chair of VA’s
National Rehabilitation Special Events.
In this role since
200l, Derek has improved public awareness of
veterans’ issues, encouraged participation in the
events and visited VA medical centers around the
country.
“I am extremely
pleased Ms. Derek will once again work with the
department on these special events,” said Principi. “She
brings a strong voice and an unshakable commitment
to our nation’s heroes.”
VA’s
rehabilitation events consist of four annual
programs -- the National Veterans Wheelchair Games,
the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic,
the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the
National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
“VA’s National
Rehabilitation Special Events promote the healing of
body and spirit, which helps veterans improve their
independence and enjoy a higher quality of life,”
said Derek. “I am deeply honored and moved to once
again serve as the honorary chair of a truly noble
cause on behalf of America’s veterans.”
No stranger to
veterans’ causes, Derek’s father, Paul Collins, was
a radio operator during the Korean War, and both her
stepfather and her late husband, John Derek, were
veterans.
Derek also
participates in USO tours to support American
troops, works with the Special Forces Association,
which named her an honorary Green Beret, and helps
the non-profit organization Canine Companions for
Independence.
This past year,
Derek also received the Communicator of the Year
Award from the National Association of Government
Communicators and the VA Secretary’s Award
recognizing her dedicated advocacy for America’s
veterans. |