NADP News September 06, 2010

Former Army Ranger and best selling business author, Steve Sullivan delivered a 2 hour workshop to about 100 guests at The Yard in Manchester this past Saturday. Don Duhamel , Director and founder of Liberty House was on hand to listen to Sullivan’s advice called Leading at Mach 2 ; Assault on the Status Quo. Duhamel has made national news lately for his tireless efforts to open New Hampshire’s first homeless shelter for Veterans. New Hampshire has nearly 1000 homeless Veterans and 140,000 Vets in the state making them a powerful voting block. Presidential candidates Senator John Kerry and General Wesley Clark have been helpful in raising money for Liberty House and both are vying for the critical Veteran vote in the state.

The surprise came toward the end of the workshop when two combat Veterans with national prominence came to award Duhamel with the National Alliance of Dedicated Patriots (www.dedicatedpatriot.com) Dedicated Patriot 2003 Award.

Cleland, the former U.S. senator (GA) lost both legs and one arm while on active duty in Vietnam in 1968. Cleland volunteered for duty in Vietnam in 1967 and was seriously wounded in a grenade explosion a year later. Cleland returned home and spent the next year learning to adapt to his injuries. He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Silver Star for his service in Vietnam. In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter appointed him to head the U.S. Veterans Administration.

In honoring Duhamel of his relentless leadership of nearly 13 years in getting Liberty House completed, Cleland, told the audience that he loves his fellow Veterans and has a special place in his heart for those who reach out to Veterans in need. He applauded the work done by the National Alliance of Dedicated Patriots due to the fact that like many Americans after September 11th, 2001 they wanted to do something, but it wasn’t clear what to do. The Dedicated Patriots have focused on supporting needy Veterans. Cleland currently serves on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, an independent, bipartisan commission created by congressional legislation and the signature of President George W. Bush in late 2002.

Wade Sanders, Former Undersecretary, US Navy, was also on hand to honor Duhamel. Sanders who earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart as a swift boat commander served in Vietnam with John Kerry.

At the close of the ceremony, Duhamel brought the Veterans issue directly into the hearts of the audience as told about the struggle of many Veterans to shake off the horrors of war. Duhamel recently met a man who hit the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 (D-day); his wife explains that after recently viewing the movie Saving Private Ryan, her husband has been hit with post-traumatic stress disorder nearly 40 years after the Allied assault.

Senator Cleland closed by saying that every night as he gets himself as comfortable as he can, he writes the words “homeless” on a small piece of paper as a reminder to do more for the brothers that he loves and have gone mostly forgotten. National Alliance of Dedicated Patriots founder Sean Shea said “this may have been our most moving day as a group trying to help needy Veterans; after hearing heroes and leaders (Cleland, Sanders, and Duhamel), the response has been terrific. After being bought into the real world of Veterans , folks are coming up to me saying , what can I do to help Veterans?”

Sean Shea, founder of the National Alliance of Dedicated Patriots, presents the Dedicated Patriots 2003 Award to Don Duhamel. Two combat heroes, former Undersecretary of the Navy Wade Sanders (standing, far right) and former Sen. Max Cleland (in wheelchair) look on.
Former US Senator and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland	Wade Sanders, Vietnam veteran and former Undersecretary, US Navy