The official account for the American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee. The AVC works to Guard the Legacy and Honor the Sacrifice of our vets.
Arlington, VA
Joined January 2009
- Tweets92.8K
- Following1.8K
- Followers32.2K
- Likes1.8K
American Veterans Center retweeted
Some client work stays with you.
Memorial Day weekend, @AVCupdate reunited Don Graves, 101, and Billy Byrd, 100, in Washington as honorary grand marshals of the National Memorial Day Parade. Both watched the flag go up on Mount Suribachi with the 28th Marine Regiment in 1945.
Their unit had 335 men. 18 survived the battle. Today, Don and Billy are the only two still alive.
We earned national coverage from the @AP and @USATODAY. When USA Today asked me about the reunion, the honest answer was that the best part was just listening to their stories... remembering them like it was last week.
Then on July 4th, the @POTUS introduced Don on the National Mall. He saluted the same flag he saw raised 81 years ago.
Proud to help make moments like this happen while these men are still here to share them.
USA Today link in the comments.
American Veterans Center retweeted
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who serve, the fathers of our nation’s heroes, and the fathers who carry on the legacies of those we have lost.
Today, we celebrate the love, strength, guidance, and sacrifice that fathers bring to their families and communities. We are especially grateful for the military and first responder dads who answer the call to serve, and for the fathers whose children made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
From all of us at the Gary Sinise Foundation, thank you for all you do. Wishing you a very Happy Father’s Day. 💙🇺🇸
American Veterans Center retweeted
Honoring those who gave everything for our freedoms this Memorial Day. Grateful to join our community in remembrance and reflection at today’s National Memorial Day parade in Washington, DC.
Thank you, @Freedom250 @AVCupdate @GarySiniseFound! – at Washington, DC
American Veterans Center retweeted
Today, we’re celebrating all moms. Those serving in uniform, the mothers of our nation’s heroes, and the women who hold their families together through every season.
Your strength, love, and steady presence make a difference in ways big and small every single day.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at the Gary Sinise Foundation. 💐
American Veterans Center retweeted
Thank you to the great team at the American Veterans Center @AVCupdate for a moving and inspiring conference in New York City last evening marking the 25th anniversary year of the 9/11 attacks. We were privileged to hear General Richard Myers and others recount stories of courage and resilience from that dark day.
American Veterans Center retweeted
In this moving interview with @AVCupdate, our President & CEO Michael "Rod" Rodríguez, reflects on the experiences that shaped him and the enduring spirit of service that continues to guide his leadership today.
Watch the full interview here: bit.ly/3PyoBOL
American Veterans Center retweeted
Absolutely amazing to meet this WWII hero! 🇺🇸🫡
March 6, 1945 | D+15, Battle of Iwo Jima
Two weeks after the brutal D-Day landings on February 19, and nearly two weeks since the flag rose on Mount Suribachi, the fight was far from over. Marines pushed deeper into the island's northern hellscape—volcanic ridges, fortified caves, and the notorious "Meatgrinder" around Hill 382—where every advance meant blasting bunkers, clearing tunnels with flamethrowers, and trading fire in savage close combat. Casualties mounted daily as Japanese defenders refused to yield an inch.
Marine Raider Frank Wright was in the thick of it. Enlisting at just 16, he'd already survived malaria after Guadalcanal, then ferocious hand-to-hand fighting and multiple bayonet wounds on Guam. Recovering barely in time, he landed on Iwo Jima and charged into the grinder at Hill 382, a 382-foot-high fortified knob that formed the heart of this deadly complex—along with nearby Turkey Knob and the Amphitheater.
This was a maze of interconnected tunnels, bunkers, pillboxes, and machine-gun nests that made it one of the toughest objectives on the island.
During the intense close-quarters fighting at Hill 382, machine-gun rounds tore through Frank severely wounding him and forcing his evacuation. Despite these wounds, Frank Wright managed to survive. His raw account captures the unrelenting terror and unbreakable grit that soldiers faced during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
American Veterans Center retweeted
I was honored to have Lester Schrenk as a friend, and to help @AVCupdate bring his amazing story of courage to a wide audience. And to dance with him each year at our gala. Rest in peace, dear Les! As our song puts it, I'll be seeing you.
Today we shared on our YouTube channel a conversation between WWII prisoner of war, Lester Schrenk, and Vietnam prisoner of war, Red McDaniel.
Shortly after the video was posted we learned that Les passed away this morning. While we are terribly saddened by the loss of our friend Les, we are incredibly grateful that both of these gentlemen sat down with us for this interview this past November, especially now that we know it was the last chance we would get to record this conversation.
American Veterans Center retweeted
Korean War Veteran Royce Williams is set to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor after being involved in one of the longest dogfights in recorded history back in 1952.
Williams would find himself up against seven Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets during a harrowing 35-minute battle. Through a combination of skill, experience, and sheer luck Williams would survive the battle only to be faced with the challenge of landing his crippled Panther back on a carrier.
American Veterans Center retweeted
It was an honor to be there in the presence of all those real life heroes. 🙏🙌🇺🇸
.@ZacharyLevi presents the incredible story of the last commercial flight out of Vietnam, in which five Pan Am stewardesses volunteered for a secret mission in late April of 1975.
With Saigon surrounded and about to fall, President Ford authorized a final, secret flight, where an empty Pan Am 747 landed in Vietnam, whereupon the five flight attendants led the incredible and dangerous evacuation of 463 Vietnamese employees and their families.
Tra Duong Iwafuchi, Sioux Matson-Krings, and Pamela Borgfeldt Taylor share their epic story of ‘The Last Flight Out.’
American Veterans Center retweeted
I was honored to participate in the 28th Annual Veterans Conference & American Valor Honors Gala hosted by the American Veterans Center (@AVCupdate) earlier this month. I had the privilege of moderating a powerful panel titled: “September 11, 2001: Stories of Valor, Honor and Sacrifice from the Darkest Day in Modern History.”
The panel featured incredible stories of heroism from:
▪️ Michael Hingson, Blind from birth, after the attack on the North Tower Michael’s guide dog, Roselle, led him - and some 30 others - down 78 floors and 1463 steps to safety. Shortly after exiting, the North Tower collapsed. Roselle stayed calm and led them both to safety.
▪️Marc Sasseville, Director of Operations for the 121st Fighter Squadron, 113th Wing of the DC Air National Guard on September 11th, alongside then Lt.-Heather Penny, his mission was to locate the hijacked Flight 93, and if necessary, ram it from the sky with his unarmed F-16 before it could reach the intended target. The mission proved moot, owing to the incredible heroism of the passengers of Flight 93, who attempted to take back control of the plane
▪️Clarence Singleton, Marine Corps combat veteran of Vietnam. On duty to rescue survivors of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Had retired from FDNY the year prior to 9/11. Heard about the attacks, donned his gear, and made his way to the WTC before the collapse of the North Tower, when he was injured by falling debris.
▪️ William Van Scoyoc, Employed by Morgan Stanley, working in Tower 2 of WTC. Lead evacuation of 276 fellow employees. Witness to the valor of Rick Rescorla before he was killed in the collapse of the towers.
It was a humbling experience to hear firsthand the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of these heroes. Their stories remind us of the extraordinary bravery that defines our veterans, first responders, and so many Americans.
As a Ground Zero survivor and founder of The 9/11 Legacy Foundation, I believe that we must preserve the stories of as many victims, survivors, first responders and loved ones as possible and make them available to every American.
History is not just something we study; it is something we carry. If we allow 9/11 to fade into a historical footnote, if we fail to challenge misinformation, if we do not teach our children why “We Remember,” then we dishonor the sacrifices of that day.
#AmericanValor #911Heroes #Veterans #Service #Leadership
American Veterans Center retweeted
Happy Veterans Day! Grateful for servant leaders who sacrifice to keep us free. From WWII fighting vets to Korean War Merchant Marines and Rosies The Riveters, we celebrated our heroes at @AVCupdate American Valor gala. Support their inspiring work here: americanveteranscenter.org
American Veterans Center retweeted
🇺🇸There are few things more rewarding than delivering a front-page story for a client in one of the nation’s leading newspapers - especially one that honors the few surviving heroes of World War II on Veterans Day (link in comments).
Grateful to The @washingtonpost’s Joe Heim and Maxine Wallace for collaborating with me to share the stories of these extraordinary Americans while they were in Washington for The @AVCupdate’s Emmy-winning TV special, American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes.
It’s the honor of a lifetime to know these men and women who, through their courage and devotion to country, truly earned the title of the “Greatest Generation.” Spending time with them... it’s clear why that name endures🇺🇸
American Veterans Center retweeted
This Veterans Day, The @WashingtonPost spotlights the dwindling band of WWII heroes who gathered at the @AVCupdate Conference to share lessons of courage, sacrifice, and unity. I'm honored to help bring their voices to light 🇺🇸washingtonpost.com/nation/20…
#CunninghamCommunications🚀
American Veterans Center retweeted
Happy Veterans Day 🇺🇸
Today, we honor the men and women, past and present, who have served our nation.
Thank you for your service, sacrifice and dedication.
American Veterans Center retweeted
235 years of steadfast service at sea and ashore ⚓️ 🇺🇸
Today, we salute the @USCG on its 235th birthday.
From safeguarding our shores to executing rescues and interdicting threats far from home, the Coast Guard is a key component of our nation's maritime security and defense.
Happy Birthday, Shipmates — Semper Paratus, always.
#CoastGuardBirthday #SemperParatus #Marines #USMC #USCG
American Veterans Center retweeted
July 12, 1862: President Lincoln signs legislation creating the Medal of Honor.
Today, it stands as the ultimate symbol of gallantry, sacrifice, and uncommon courage.
Watch to learn more about the history of the Medal of Honor.
#MedalOfHonor #ArmyHistory