The Flight Deck

I should’ve put this up earlier, but things got busy.

Vets for Freedom is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and headed up by Pete Hesgeth. Their mission is “to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics in Iraq.” The non-partisan part? Their board of advisers includes Joe Liberman, Lindsay Graham and Ralph Peters, as well as members of the Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations.

Point is, they are kicking off the “National Heroes Tour” in San Diego tomorrow (Friday) to draw attention to their mission as they travel to Washington, DC to meet with legislators ahead of General Petraeus’ expected testimony in April. Events will include appearances/speeches by heroes like Bud Day, Marcus Luttrell and David Bellavia, as well as local heroes. There will be a book signing in Pendleton in the morning, then a party on the deck of the Midway Museum at 6:30 p.m., including a parachute team landing and F-18 flyover, and music and food until 10:00 (Hugh Hewitt will be broadcasting from the ship starting at 3:00).

All events are free. Uncle Jimbo of Blackfive and I will be there to cover the news for the milblogs. Maybe if enough of the local Neptunus Lex/TFD readers plan to show up, we could talk Lex into coming…

Hope to see you there!