Speaker Challenges Catholic War Veterans Convention to a Vocation of Service to Our Vete]ans

July 27, 2011 - PRLog -- XAVIER SOCIETY for the BLIND
 
154 East 23rd Street                                 www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
New York, NY  10010-4599                              Phone: (212) 473-7800
            Email: Christine@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
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For Immediate Release

Speaker Challenges Catholic War Veterans Convention
to a Vocation of Service to Our Veterans

The Catholic War Veterans, meeting for its 76th National Convention in Orlando, Florida, will hear a clarion call to Service to our aging and disabled Veterans.  Rick Kenney, keynote speaker at the convention’s banquet and ball, is the Director of Special Projects for the 111-year-old Xavier Society for the Blind in New York City.  Mr. Kenney will address the moral dilemma presented by war in general, and specifically by the recent phenomena of targeted operations against terrorist leaders, such as Osama Bin Laden.
The dinner will take place at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort on Saturday evening, August 13th, 2011.  For information, contact Christine Moore at (212) 473-7800 or at Christine@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org.
Citing the decision by Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient LT Michael M. Murphy, USN, to release a goat-herder who happened upon a clandestine operation, which would ultimately cost Murphy and a number of other Navy seals their lives, Mr. Kenney will examine the paradox of the Catholic warrior. He will then broach the question of whether a war really ends for the warrior when the shooting stops, particularly if he is wounded, handicapped or disabled.
Proclaiming that, as a band of brothers, we are indeed “our brother’s keeper,” Kenney will suggest the Catholic War Veterans rededicate themselves to “Service” yet again to aged, infirm or troubled fellow veterans.  He will suggest a broad, proactive program within everyone’s individual capability to bring relief, companionship and hope to those still bearing the scars of war.
This address is part of a continuing outreach by the Xavier Society of the Blind to focus attention on disabled veterans.  Society Chairman, Fr. John Sheehan, S.J. has recently addressed the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the American Council of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, and has been appointed to the Board of the National Association of Blind Veterans. He is Chaplain of American Legion Post 2001, the 9-11 Memorial Post, and a Knight of Columbus.









Rick Kenney is a former U.S. Marine and retired civil servant, having spent a 34-year career with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command and as a Navy Civilian Personnel Officer, as well with the U.S. Coast Guard in Civilian Personnel, and as worldwide spokesman for its voluntary deep-sea Search and Rescue Program, addressing Maritime industry, union, insurance and diplomatic audiences at the highest levels of government.  He is a Past Grand Knight and former New York State Pro-Life Chairman of the Knights of Columbus and Vice Commander of his American Legion Post in Brooklyn, New York.
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