The Patriots’ Parade initiative is a sweeping effort established by the R4 Alliance to heighten awareness of the civilian population concerning misconceptions about veteran care, and to educate the public on how our nation’s U.S. military members and their families can be better served. The project also establishes a financial environment to support the success of member organizations, while ensuring that no service member is ever forgotten, and no returning service member goes without effective care.

In the aftermath of Post-9-11 conflicts, there are more than 650,000 veterans or members of the military suffering from battle-related Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and Military Sexual Trauma resulting in a reported 22 suicides per day. This statistic mandates not only alternative forms of support for the U.S. military population, but also a national, private sector consciousness that will help guide it. Between 2012 and 2013, a group of dedicated organizations and concerned individuals convened along with members of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of the Army and the Veterans Administration, to create the R4 Alliance. The R4 Alliance is launching the Patriots’ Parade to alleviate the often-overlooked necessity for military members to share their experiences in a narrative, communicative format, thus abating the trauma of suicide often correlated with battle fatigue, isolation and reduced self-esteem.

The R4 Alliance maximizes potential for U.S. military members through member-driven standards of excellence, research, education/training, and development of a continuum of care improving recreation and rehabilitation to achieve reintegration. The Patriots’ Parade website also serves as the world’s longest virtual military history book where military service tributes can be posted under respective historical chapters. Chuck Steele, R4 Alliance Executive Director notes, “We’ve discovered that many of the U.S. military members we serve through the R4 Alliance lack a platform to express their personal experiences in an interactive environment—-we recognize their sacrifice and contribution to our freedom, and this website provides them with a voice to share their involvement. In addition, we acknowledge that there are countless patriots who have engaged in military efforts throughout the decades that we would like to document and highlight for their courageous deeds in establishing and defending our country.” The R4 Alliance has grown to over 60 programs that collaborate to address the needs of America’s active military duty and veterans to provide access to effective RT programs while sustaining growth on a national basis. Visit www.r4alliance.org for additional information or call 855-474-2554.

Contact Eva M. Stimson, 858/864-8536 or emsmarketing1@cox.net