American Veterans Vote, Inc. | |
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Newsletter
August 29, 2022
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Bob Wood, LTG (R), US Army
CEO, American Veterans Vote
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We’ve arrived. Not just football season, but also election season - Labor Day, Line of Departure (LD). Summer is over, primaries are completed, candidates are named, and campaigns are underway. Virginia in the Fall! Every Fall.
There are elections every year in the Commonwealth. This year, Every Congressional seat is contested (11). Next year Every State House District and Senate seat is contested (140). This doesn’t count important political races at community level…OMG. Overwhelming or Opportunity?
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As veterans, we know the LD marks the transition from planning to execution, from the defense to the offense, from concept to reality. And on this sad anniversary of the Afghan debacle, it’s past time to seize the opportunity and Get Real. Look around. Observe the economic word play, pronoun confusion, enemy advances, and military readiness shortfalls - Get Real. See politicians rush to failure as they sacrifice energy strengths now for Green promises (much) later - Get Real. And watch inflation worsen due to tuition handouts vice a far better alternative, Service and the GI Bill – Get Real. So, how can we Get Real? Win at the ballot box. All else is second.
American Veterans Vote (AVV) Keeps it Real. Midterm elections are won on turnout. Our motto is Every Veteran – Every Vote. We focus on turnout. Veteran voters number 726K strong in Virginia. Add Veteran households and that vote number grows. Last year, AVV and Veterans beat average voter turnout by 12% (55% v 67%). This year, we’ve done the math. Beat 67% turnout in key Congressional races this year and Veteran votes can again be the margin of victory in 2022’s close Congressional races.
To achieve Every Veteran - Every Vote, there is work to do. Winning elections is a team sport. Once again, AVV leads Virginia’s Republican Veteran Coalition. It builds on last year’s success in operational planning and support for Veteran campaign related events and communications. We are excited to initiate Operation Vet2Vote supporting Day One of early voting, 23 September. See important details in the following AVV Newsletter article, “Leading by Example – Vets2Vote 2022.”
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Introducing AVV's Vets2Vote Initiative | |
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Leading by Example – AVV and Vets2Vote 2022
American Veterans Vote (AVV) is a Veteran based, volunteer organization established to enable Veterans to exercise their political voice and achieve needed and lasting change through the ballot box. Our very name is a statement of fact, a warning, and a call to action. Our motto is Every Veteran, Every Vote.
In our first year (2021), we achieved remarkable success in Virginia leading the Veteran Coalition for Glenn Younkin, Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares and Republican House of Delegate candidates.
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Our work centered on operational planning, communications, and campaign support. Our Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts focused on Veteran voters who were nonvoters in recent elections. Our efforts resulted in boosting Veteran turnout to 67% versus a general voter turnout of 55%. We estimate this added 51K votes to expected voter totals.
We didn’t stand down. Our work continues. On Friday, 23 September, AVV is proud to initiate a new Vets2Vote program on Day One of early voting in Virginia. The goal of this campaign is to encourage the maximum number of Veterans to vote early, and with their vote set the example and lead the way for all voters in Virginia. On this day, AVV teams will be on site to welcome Veterans and all voters at seven early voting locations in Virginia aligned with important swing Congressional races.
Volunteer Veteran teams are forming now with AVV site coordinators. AVV teams will be located at early voting sites in Chesterfield (1st CD & 4th CD), Virginia Beach (2nd CD), Colonial Heights (4th CD), Prince William Co. (7th CD & 10th CD), Stafford (7th CD), and Loudon (10th CD).
If you can volunteer some time on 23 September at any of these sites to help us, please contact AVV by clicking here.
Celebrate Democracy with your fellow Veterans on 23 September and most importantly, VOTE. YOU EARNED IT.
For further details or questions, please contact the following:
Bill Bunting: bbunting@americanveteransvote.com
Mike Flanagan mikeflanaganusma86@gmail.com
Media queries welcome.
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Undermining Definitions
It is an age-old situation that we currently see on display.
God told Adam: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen 2:16-17)
The serpent then said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'"(Gen 3:1)
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Notice the serpent creates doubt when there should have been no doubt. He attempts to alter the definition…alter the truth...alter what God clearly stated.
Look around…it is not only “recession” that has been redefined…what about “marriage”? What about the definition of a “man” and a “woman?” How about defining “when life begins?” There are many more…we are in a SPIRITUAL battle, but there is GOOD NEWS, a GOOD TRUTH we can count on, and here it is:
“The world develops truth so we can live within it, God gives us truth so we can live with Him.” - Pastor Larry Jones.
Carrying that forward, God sees our mess ups, but He promises to heal us because we are His children. In Isaiah 57:18 the Lord says: “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.”
Dr. COL (R) Michael B. “Yama” Hoyes, AVV Member
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New VETERAN Community Center Opens in Virginia Beach | |
The Republican National Committee launched a first-of-its kind Veterans and Military Families Community Center in Virginia Beach on August 19. Special guests included VA GOP Chairman Rich Anderson, U.S. Air Force Veteran; Congressman Rob Wittman, VA-01; Attorney General Jason Miyares; State Senator Jen Kiggans, Candidate for Congress (VA-02) & U.S. Navy Veteran; Hung Cao, Candidate for Congress (VA-10) & U.S. Navy Veteran; and, Lt. General (ret.) Bob Wood, American Veterans Vote. | | |
AVV CEO Bob Wood addresses the audience during the opening ceremony of the Veteran Center. | |
AVV member COL (Ret) Bill Flanagan receives special recognition for his 30 plus years of service to Veterans and to Veteran legislation during the opening of the Veteran Center. | |
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August 15th was the 77th anniversary of VJ Day – an opportunity to remember the sacrifices and accomplishments of U.S. personnel who fought in extreme conditions in the Pacific theater.
A little more than four months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Doolittle’s raiders flying B-25s launched from the U.S. aircraft carrier Hornet, bombed industrial targets in Tokyo and other locations greatly boosting the morale of a country still in shock. Six months after Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway gave the U.S. its first strategic naval victory in the Pacific theater and marked the end of Japan’s westward expansion.
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A war relic on Tarawa - U.S. Marines captured the island after 76 hours of intense fighting | |
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Announcing AVV Endorsed Candidates
Note: AVV's endorsement process is ongoing, and we expect to announce more endorsements over the next few weeks.
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AVV endorses Republican Robert J. Wittman for the 1st congressional district. Wittman currently serves as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 1st congressional district - a post he's held since 2007.
Wittman's priorities include: National Defense, Jobs & Economy, Veterans, Broadband, Transportation & Infrustructure, and Environmental Conservation.
Wittman was in Army ROTC during college and currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
Click Here to View Website
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AVV endorses Republican Jen Kiggans for the 2nd congressional district. Kiggans is currently a Virginia state senator representing District 7.
Kiggans' priorities include among other things, cutting inflation and the cost of living, growing jobs and the economy, border security, law enforcement, national security, and veterans,
Kiggans served 10 years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot, including two deployments to the Persian Gulf. She later went on to become a board-certified Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
Click Here to View Website
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Fourth District
AVV endorses Republican Leon Benjamin for the 4th congressional district.
Benjamin is the Senior Pastor and Bishop of New Life Harvest Church in Richmond, and the founder of Coalition of Leaders United (CLU) dedicated to advancing conservative values and restoration of moral clarity in American.
Benjamin served in the U.S. Navy from 1986 to 1994 and is a Gulf War veteran.
Click Here to View Website
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Sixth District
AVV endorses Republican Ben Cline for the 6th congressional district. Cline currently represents Virginia's 6th congressional district in the U.S House of Representatives.
Cline's priorities include the economy, reforming congress, energy, healthcare, and support for veterans.
Cline previously served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates where he chaired the Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety.
Click Here to View Website
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Seventh District
AVV endorses Republican Yesli Vega for the 7th congressional district. Vega is the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who fled civil war. Running on a platform of conservative principles, in 2018 Yesli was elected to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.
Among other things, Vega's priorities include Constitutional checks and balances on the government, border security, law enforcement, election reform, education, healthcare, and the economy.
Vega previously served as a police officer and certified hostage negotiator and is a U.S. Army spouse.
Click Here to View Website
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Tenth District
AVV endorses Republican Hung Cao for the 10th congressional district.
Cao's priorities include among other things, government checks and balances, the economy, education, defense of the homeland, and national defense.
Cao is a retired U.S. Navy Special Operations Officer and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School.
Click Here to View Website
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Election day is November 8 and early voting is September 23 through November 5. Are you ready?
This is your opportunity to scrutinize candidates, weigh their potential effect on the nation, and then decide whether to vote them out or give them consent to govern.
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However, if you mismanage your voter registration in Virginia, you'll likely be restricted to casting a provisional ballot only. Then, the local electoral board will decide whether your vote is counted. Is that what you want?
You should also vote at the earliest opportunity - doing so reduces the risk of someone else using your ballot. If that occurs, you'll be limited to a provisional ballot.
Register here or check that your registration is up to date: Registration - Virginia Department of Elections
Know which congressional district you’re in and familiarize yourself with the candidates. Check here by your zip code: | house.gov
Know where to vote. Find your registrar’s office for early voting here: Local Contact Information (virginia.gov).
For election day, find your polling place here: Polling Place Lookup - Virginia Department of Elections
Getting deployed and need to vote by absentee ballot? The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is October 28. Apply here: Citizen Portal - Virginia Department of Elections
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Be An Engaged Member of the Electorate | |
As the election approaches, members of congress are paying attention. Now is a good time to let your congressmen know you're scrutinizing how they've governed - ask them what they've done to earn your vote.
Without any input from you, lawmakers could follow party or fringe agendas instead of the wishes of their constituency.
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Speak up if you're unhappy with your elected officials' decisions. They're supposed to represent you. | |
American Veterans Vote, Inc. (AVV) is a volunteer team of Veterans and Civilian Mission Partners who led the Veteran Coalition for Glenn Youngkin. We are a 527 Political Action Committee with a nationally-focused mission to promote the political voice of Veterans and mission partners in support of our three key objectives:
- Support of Veterans and their Families,
- Defense of the Constitution, and
- Promote Our Nation’s Security.
AVV’s goal is to help Veterans maximize their political voice by supporting Veterans’ ability to Vote, Volunteer and Run for Public Office.
"Every Veteran, Every Vote."
We don't speak FOR Veterans... we speak AS Veterans.
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Veterans and Civilian Mission Partners...Join Us! | |
PAID FOR BY AMERICAN VETERANS VOTE | | | | | |
