Harley's Heroes Brings Local Veterans Free Benefits Counseling Nov. 11th

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 6, 2012 - Local military veterans will receive free counseling and assistance with their government benefits from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) when The NEW Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson hosts Harley’s Heroes on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

Since 2007, this program sponsored by The Harley-Davidson Foundation - dubbed Harley’s Heroes - has brought DAV’s Mobile Service Office (MSO) to hundreds of dealerships across the country, providing important counseling and assistance to help tens of thousands of veterans and their families secure the benefits to which they earned through service.

DAV’s Mobile Service Office, or “office on wheels,” eliminates long trips veterans would alternatively have to make from rural communities to city offices. DAV National Service Officers, all disabled veterans themselves, are able to work efficiently from the fully staffed van, helping all veterans with their questions about what benefits they are eligible for – even if they have never filed a claim or had found it difficult working through the red tape.

This local Harley’s Heroes event is hosted in conjunction with the dealership’s annual Freedom Photo. The dealership will also be collecting slightly used t-shirts, jackets and non-perishable food items for the Homeless Veterans of America (local division).

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
● WHAT: 2012 Harley’s Heroes visits Hickory, North Carolina. DAV to provide FREE benefit counseling services to local veterans
● WHERE: The New Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson
● WHEN: Sunday November 11, 2012 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
● WHO: Local veterans and veteran riders who benefit from DAV free services
● Suggested Coverage:  DAV Mobile Service Office with special Harley’s Heroes graphics, veterans and riders receiving on-site counseling, interviews with program representatives, Ceremony at 1pm with the Newton Conover JROTC and Ethel Cunningham singing the National Anthem, Freedom Photo at 2pm.

The Harley-Davidson Foundation has pledged a total commitment of $2 million to support DAV’s mobile veteran outreach program since 2007.  Over 300 Harley-Davidson dealerships have hosted a Harley’s Heroes event since the program inception.

Keeping up with veterans benefits, and the changes from one year to the next, can be difficult.  And disabilities related to military service sometimes take years to manifest or go years before being diagnosed.  Many veterans have their disabilities go untreated or uncompensated. Thanks to the DAV’s free services, veterans can get the help they need. All DAV counseling is offered free of charge with no appointment required.

ABOUT HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY
Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson's Web site at http://www.harley-davidson.com.  The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization supporting the communities in which the Company has facilities and selected national causes including veteran’s initiatives.

ABOUT DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. More information is available at http://www.dav.org.

ABOUT BLUE RIDGE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Built in 2003, Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson® is located in the beautiful foothills of North Carolina near the renowned Blue Ridge Parkway. Inside: stone columns; lots of natural light shining through the many windows and dormers; and wood plank and stained concrete floors add to the store’s lodge-like feel. Outside, visitors can park their bike along the 8,000 square foot covered porch. Guests are welcome to relax on the large sheltered deck where you can watch sports on our new 55 inch flat screen televisions and visit the in-store Refueling Station Cafe.

The NEW Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson is located at 2002 13th Avenue Drive SE in Hickory, right next to the Hickory Convention Center. Please visit http://www.BlueRidgeHD.com or call (828) 327-3030 for details on this and other dealership activities.