Live from Convention: 2009 AMVETS Expo opens

Yesterday, the 2009 AMVETS Expo opened at the Sheraton New Orleans for the AMVETS National Convention. More than 25 exhibitors from the VA, Department of Defense, veterans' non-profits, and veteran-supportive colleges and businesses were on hand to speak with AMVETS and local veterans.

Expo visitors who have at least 20 exhibitors' initials on their AMVETS Expo sheet can enter to win a $50 or $100 gift certificate to the National Quartermaster courtesy of the AMVETS Department of Ohio, five gift packages courtesy of Paws for the Cause, or a Budweiser chess set and a Bud Light Tiffany lamp courtesy of Anheuser-Busch. Entries must be returned to the registration table by 2 p.m. on Friday to be eligible for Saturday's drawing.

The AMVETS Expo is open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Salon D of the Sheraton's Grand Ballroom.

Here is a list of this year's exhibitors:

Addus Health Care; Air Compassion for Veteras, Mercy Medical Airlift; AMVETS Membership Department; AMVETS Programs Department; Columbia College; Crowne Plaza Riverfront and Hilton Garden St. Paul, Minn.; DeVry University; Empire State College; Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge; John Tracy Clinic; Hilton Atlanta Hotel; Hyant Regency Dearborn, Mich.; Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command; Kaplan University; MCS Direct; MyHealtheVet; Office of the Chief of Army Reserve; Paws with a Cause; SheerBliss Ice Cream; St. Judes Children's Research Hospital; University of Phoenix; VA National Cemetery Administration; VA Office of Veterans Health Communication; VA Research and Development Communication; VAVS; VHA Web Communications; and Wireless Affinity Enterprises.

(Photos: Top: AMVETS visiting New Orleans for the 2009 National Convention visit with exhibitors at the 2009 AMVETS Expo. Middle: Jody Shifflett from Air Compassion for Veterans explains his organization's program to provide critical transportation to veterans and their loved ones during times of emergency. Shifflett addressed the AMVETS delegation on the convention floor earlier in the day. Bottom: Sarah, a member of the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, discusses the benefits of service dogs such as Gus with visitors to the expo. Sarah credits Gus with changing her life and motivating her to advocate for veterans' service dogs. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)