Giving Thanks To Vets, Vegas-Style

Hotelier Honors Those Who Serve By Serving Them With A Vacation To Remember

(CBS)  But for the most part it was well-deserved R&R.

Ray Hubbard was along for the trip. He, too, was wounded in Iraq.

"These insurgents, these other soldiers that were fighting, launched a missile, 122 millimeter Soviet-built rocket, off the bed of a pick-up truck," he told Doane. "My left leg was amputated below the knee, then the abdomen was ripped open this way and this way.

"It was 11 months total at Walter Reade, and from what I know, around 35 operations," he said.

For Hubbard, a trip to Las Vegas couldn't have come at a better time.

"I mean, there were weeks where I was not, I was getting out of bed for maybe two hours a day," he said.

"Because you were depressed?" asked Doane.

"Yes, absolutely. I was depressed, I was just not feeling attractive, you know. All these scars on my body. I did not think that I could function as a normal human being anymore."

The Armed Forces Foundation's Patricia Driscoll asked, "Can you ever thank somebody enough for protecting your freedom? Probably not. But I'd say that the Adelsons have said 'thanks' in a bigger way than anybody possibly could."

"This is something that your nonprofit foundation, a small foundation, could never, ever do without the Adelsons," Doane said.

"Oh, no way," said Discoll (left). "This trip alone is costs over a million dollars, and it's coming out of his pocket personally."

There have been three trips so far, with more planned. To the Adelsons, it's not about the money:

"The reason why we're willing to come and talk about it is not because we want any 'Atta boys' for it. What we wanna do is say to other people, 'Why don't you do something, too?'

"Somebody's gotta put their arm around them and say, 'We love you, we care for you, and here's our way of saying 'thank you.'"

Judging by the smiles of the veterans, the Adelsons are onto something.

"A simple 'thank you' means the world," said Joe Caputo. "You know, it doesn't have to be extravagant. No matter what's going on in your life, no matter how bad your day may be, when somebody just turns around and shakes your hand, they look you in the eye and they say 'Thank you,' those two words mean a lot to me, personally, and to other Marines that I've spoken to."

"There's no greater feeling than knowing that you give something that not only your mother's proud of, not only your sister says, 'Good job,' but the entire country says, 'Thank you,'" said Ray Hubbard. "Every time they say it, I say, 'It was a pleasure to serve, and thank you.'"

[plovewell]

God bless Sheldon Adelson and his wife for making our troops a priority! Your program brought tears to my eyes. I immediately emailed our son who is in the Air Force, serving in Baghdad, Iraq to tell him of this marvelous gift which the Adelsons have given to our troops. I know it lifted him up.
This week, I heard a quote on the news which said, "The only ones in our country who are sacrificing are our troops.". Think about it, we can all do something to show our support and appreciation to all of our troops and their families! Saying,"thank you", costs nothing.
Peggy Lovewell, San Diego CA

[major3xs]

HOO RAH Thanks to the Adelsons for their respect for our veterans, past, present, and future. As a disable Vietnam vet, it is great to see someone who knows how ro treat our wounded vets.
Thanks so very much.
Pete

[dpicard3]

Thank you Mr.Adelson for showing appreciation to our veterans with such a wonderful treat. I was so excited to read of your contribution because for many years I have organizing a special Christmas Eve dinner and celebration for the veterans in Ann Arbor Michigan''s nursing facility. Along with the staff of Washtenaw Community College and area merchants, every year we give the veterans a KFC dinner along with treats, gifts, and our personal thanks for their unselfish service to our nation. We want to change a possibly lonely evening into one of celebration. We would appreciate any help you can give us so we can provide even more to these veterans. Sincerely, Debi Freeman (by Dorothy Picard)

[rjmoran-2009]

I wanted to take a moment to offer my sincerest thanks to Mr and Mrs Adelson for recently hosting wounded veterans at the Venetian. I happened to catch the news story on CBS yesterday morning and was wondering if Mr. Adelson had some type of fund set up for helping to bring more troops to Las Vegas. I''d be very interested in contributing.

I understand the Venetian partnered with the Armed Forces Foundation but I would prefer to give my contribution directly. After researching the Armed Forces Foundation, I noticed that they recently declined to help a veteran in need and ignored his many calls for help.

The Adelsons'' generosity is truly awe inspiring but they should not be the only ones to shoulder the burden of caring for our military. I sincerely would like to help.


All the best,

Robert Moran
West Palm Beach, Florida



Taken from 11/10 News Article "Help Wanted" in Emporia, Gazette (Kansas)

"...Application also was made to the Armed Forces Foundation, though Van Vickle said it seems no help will come from that source. "They quit answering my calls and they quit returning (calls) when I''d leave a message," Van Vickle said. "I just stopped."

[cqmart]

Thank you for showing your story on Mr. and Mrs. Adelson, and Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Adelson, but most of all Thank''s to the soldiers

[misssuzq]

Posted by ibsteve2u

Dear God. Why is it that some people always have to put a political spin on things or shoot good deeds down?

So what IF, IF it was a publicity stunt?

Our vets reaped the rewards of it!

[misssuzq]

I saw this yesterday and was blown away by this man''s heart and generousity!

Our veterans deserve so much more than they get and I hope others with cash to burn follow suit, as well as those of us that can pitch in a few dollars.

[edriske1]

Thank you, Mr Adelson, for your wonderful gift to our returning vets! My husband served during Vietnam and never received a thank you from anyone. He is not at all bitter...just thankful to have served his country. However, he always goes out of his way to thank any military he might meet. He knows how nice it would have been to get a hand shake or a "thank you" at the time. That is the very least someone can do! Your tremendous gift will never be forgotten by our men and women who have sacrificed so much. For those who might think it is a "publicity stunt", shame on you! We chose to think there really are people with a generous heart and who live with a wonderful spirit. Thanks again and God bless!

[chatog]

MR. Sheldon Adelson my God Bless you and your family. I am a retired Soldier. What your doing is great. I want to say Thank Your Sir. Are vets will never be out of sight out of mind.As long as there are people in this world like yourself.I salute you Sir. AGauna

[groliesgirl]

It''s so refreshing to read a positive story like this.

[missingamerica]

a) Sheldon Adelson funds just about every other right-wing neocon organization - the ones who get Republicans elected who in turn slash funding for veterans'' programs so they can cut taxes for people like Adelson.

See for yourself: http://www.accountableamerica.com/people/adelson

b) Adelson is in financial trouble - see http://vegas.lalate.com/. He NEEDS good publicity.


Which is why I view this as a publicity stunt, nothing more.

I am glad some vets benefited - Lord knows they deserve it.

But as a vet, I served to ensure that my government was elected, not bought. The Sands and Venetian are not on my list of preferred casinos.

[vetdr99]

I was deeply touched by the story showing Sheldon Adelson''s thank you for our returning vets. As a VA care giver, I am searching for new ways to reach the returning vets with brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder, who are too busy or too proud to come in for the help they need. Dr. Adelson''s approach is wonderful, since it begins with a sincere thank you and backs that up with a rewarding, relaxing time. I would love to team up with Dr. Adelson to provide the returning vets with a fun, entertaining, yet therapeutic experience in order to get their lives back on the right track.

[lindas0806]

Earlier this year my niece received a phone call that her husband serving in Afghanistan was in critical condition and may not survive. After many of our darkest days... they were invited on this trip to Las Vegas. After their arrival she called and said "Aunt Linda, all the people were cheering". I told her, "Jamie, do you know why? They are cheering because you deserve it, because you are heroes."

Mr. and Mrs. Adelson, there are no words to describe how it felt today to see what she described to me on the phone. From the jet, the greeting, the room, the clubs, the dinners, the shows... Thank you for the smiles and laughter I saw, and thank you to CBS for capturing.

Colin and Jamie, there is a long road ahead, you not only have us back at home, but a whole nation of proud Americans supporting you. This time we are going to do right thanks to people like Mr. and Mrs. Adelson leading the way to give to those who give everything... those who give everything without a word of complaint. You are amazing!

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon what you have given to the veterans and their spouses is obvious, what may not be, is what you are giving their families. A renewed spirit and a chance to heal.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, the family of Colin and Jamie

[j911968]

Your story on the Adelsons ''Thank You'' to our soldiers was wonderful. I hope a lot of other people who have the resources to do it, will. I hope he reads all these comments so he knows that many people feel the way he does and appreciate that he did something about it. God Bless All Of Our Soldiers

[dorie53]

I hope you can forward our comments to this wonderful man. That story really touched our day. My husband is a Vietnam-era veteran and we have a 17 yr daughter who is thinking of joining the Air Force. I only wish I could have been at the Venetian to welcome our military heros. The older I get, the more patriotic I feel and I just wish more people would reach out and help others like this. It is so refreshing to see people who are in a position to help to others actually do it. I salute you sir! PS - I wish the military would let middle-aged mamas in to do clerical work & skip Basic.

[lfp190]

This so awesome, I wish everyone could give their thanks to all our soldiers and public that are fighting for fredom, we truly owe them everything. as for Sheldon Adelson isn''t it great that he is doing this!! Hurrah for him and his also.

[vietnamvet10]

Sheldon Adelson gets a huge attaboy (even though he doesn%u2019t seek it) for thanking veterans in such a glorious way. Nothing could be more important than for we-the-people to thank our veterans. Vietnam veterans like me probably appreciate that more than anyone, having been spit on literally and figuratively during and after that war. We-the-people weren%u2019t there with the salve when we came home and needed healing, and those scars will not go away until we die. So God bless Sheldon for his part in making sure that never happens again.

[cdfoxtrot5]

Vets deserve all our thanks. They do marvelous work, helping animals in need and bringing modern medicine to the benefit of our closest friends. Vets deserve our respect and gratitude for all they do.

[ramos937]

A beautiful story......please keep them coming....we need more of this.

[nordeck52]

Besides, this is a nice story for a change. I like these stories!