35 cents
VOL. 2/ISSUE 25
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014
Empowering vets Patrick McCallister For Veteran voice
patrick.mccallister@yahoo.com
Editor’s note: Veteran Voice has the privilege of meeting, interviewing and writing stories that involve many area veteran leaders. Their names repeatedly appear in our stories, always followed by “said.” We launched an occasional series for 2014, Veteran Vanguard, to introduce readers to the wonderful men and woman that contribute so much to veterans, communities and our stories. This week we’re featuring Garren Cone, co-founder of the American Veterans Empowerment Team (AVET) Project. Cone’s passion and enthusiasm are infectious. He’s left Veteran Voice writers and editors scratching our heads in confusing after realizing he’d talked us into doing things never giving us chances to say, “No.” Garren Cone’s one of those guys who joined the military and never left. The Space Coast resident is co-founder and president of the American Veterans Empowerment Team (AVET) Project, and co-host of American Warrior Radio, a veterans-interest show on 1300 AM, WMEL. “I have a heart to serve my brothers and sisters,” Cone said. The 51-year-old is a relatively new Floridian. His wife, Kim, and he were living in Oregon. They up and traveled around the U.S. for a three years, putting about 42,000 miles behind them.
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Brevard group hosting Military Appreciation Day FOR VETERAN VOICE
Photo courtesy of Garren Cone Air Force veteran Garren Cone is co-founder and president of the American Veterans Empowerment Team (AVET) Project, and co-host of American Warrior Radio, a veterans-interest show on 1300 AM, WMEL.
On May 17, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. we will be holding the First Annual Space Coast Military Appreciation Day event at Searstown Mall in Titusville. The event will kick off with a 5k run/walk race staging out of the mall. The purpose of the event is to say “thank you” to military members and their families on the Space Coast and to military retirees, veterans and their family members. There is no admission to the event and proceeds from contributions from vendors and sponsors will be donated to the Junior ROTC units on the Space Coast. There will be music groups, food booths, veteran benefit analysis, door prize drawings, marching unit demonstrations and many other fun events, exhibits and activities. There is still time to become a sponsor of the event and to get a booth as a vendor at the event. For this and other information, visit the website and Facebook page: spacecoastmilitaryappreciation. com or www.facebook.com/SpaceCoastMilitaryAppreciationDay. For further information, call J.
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“Look, I can’t tell you how angry this makes me and the other vets. After everything they’ve done. Look at this guy here,” he said, pointing to his friend at the kitchen table. “He’s a combat-wounded veteran. He won two Bronze Stars and two Purple Heart (medals). Just about a year ago, he finally received the Legion of Honor from France.” Memorial display move draws ire of veterans,” Page 7