Road to Recovery Conference & Tribute
Our one-stop inspiration shop!
Imagine finding all the advice, encouragement, and support you need in one place. That's what our annual Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute is all about.
This all-expenses-paid educational and motivational event is designed to provide wounded veterans, their families and caregivers with a single source of information regarding benefits, services, insurance, healthcare, financial support, career counseling and employment opportunities. At past conferences, artists such as Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack and Gary Sinise have surprised attendees with special, exclusive concerts just for them.
The Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute is truly the first step in their recovery.
The 2010 Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute
The 6th Annual Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute, which took place December 12-16, 2010 at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, FL, marked the first time that The American Legion joined the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes in presenting the event. Further supporting their efforts were four corporate sponsors: General Motors, Humana Military, Northrop Grumman and T-Mobile.
Between selected veterans and their families, the conference brought together about 500 attendees for four days of seminars, workshops and other activities aimed at encouraging them to look to the future with confidence and optimism. In addition to speakers from the Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, the private sector and other non-profit groups, the event featured a number of special highlights, including:
- Inspirational presentations by severely wounded Vietnam War veteran Dave Roever and retired Army Sgt. Dana Bowman, a former Special Forces soldier who in 1994 became the first double amputee to re-enlist in the military.
- Confidential testing for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following presentations by Dr. Mark Wiederhold, a leading authority on TBI, and NBA referee Bob Delaney, who suffered PTSD in the 1970s after infiltrating organized crime as an undercover officer in the New Jersey State Police.
- Performances by country music artists The Redneck Tenors, Jamie O’Neal and Dennis Wilson, as well as by the Lt. Dan Band, led by actor Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump”).
Attendees and their families also were given time to enjoy the Disney theme parks and, perhaps most importantly, simply connect with one another. By the end of the event, they headed home not only rested and refreshed, but also armed with the information and tools to take control of their lives, knowing that they are not alone as they continue along their respective "roads to recovery."
Click here to watch brief videos of attendees describing their military experiences and the value of attending the conference.
See more photos from specific events at the December 2010 Conference:
Registration
Welcome Reception
Day 1 Sessions
Family Sports Night
Day 2 Sessions
Day 3 Sessions
Final Night Gala
Read about past Road to Recovery Conferences here.
"The Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute is a great example of how the private, public and government sectors can work together to help severely wounded troops and their families. We are grateful to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Defense, government service organizations and other groups who are working with us to put this event together. This is the only place where these families are under the same roof with all these organizations and given the chance to ask questions, address issues and learn about resources available." - Donny Daughenbaugh, National Spokesman, Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
