Happy Veterans Day!

With it being Veterans Day today and since I have wonderfully gotten so many new followers in the last few weeks, I thought it would be the perfect time to tell you about my roommate, Gina's incredible project. It's called Pin-Ups For Vets. I'll talk about it a lot on my blog.

When I moved to LA in January and began living with Gina, I immediately was so impressed with Pin-Ups for Vets and wanted to do anything I could to help her out. She was more than happy to take on an assistant! : ) This amazing calendar project does so much for our Vets and I am so proud of Gina. She tirelessly devotes just about every waking hour to this project. Instead of me rambling on about what I think the project is all about, I thought it would be nice to hear it straight from her. She recently wrote the following letter to some her Vet supporters.

To Our Brave Heroes,
Some of you may have heard about my project “Pin-Ups For Vets”, or have my pin-up calendar or poster hanging up in your living quarters where you are deployed. I have always been a huge fan of WWII nose art, and in 2006, came up with the idea to produce a WWII style pin-up calendar that would raise money for Veterans and Military hospitals across the US. My grandfather was a WWII Army Veteran and my project is a tribute to his service in the military. He passed away when I was younger, and never got to see this project, but when I hold his dog tags in my hand, I know that he is up there somewhere, smiling.

My 2011 calendar is about to be released, and by the end of this year, “Pin-Ups For Vets” will have donated $50,000 to help improve health care programs at our Veterans and Military hospitals across the US. In addition to raising money, I also travel across the US dressed as a 1940s pin-up girl, delivering donated calendars to our hospitalized Veterans to help improve their spirits during hospital stays. As of November 2011, I have been to 19 different VA/Military hospitals in 12 different states (this includes 3 separate trips to Walter Reed and trips to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Diego Naval Medical Center, among many others). Finally, I ship thousands of donated calendars to deployed units to boost troop morale and bring a “touch of home” and some fun to you!

I have to admit that helping serve you has changed my life. To all of my brave heroes out there, both men and women, you are my inspiration. I have met thousands of you at VA/Military hospitals and on bases across the US. I have firsthand seen your service to your country, your patriotism, your generosity, your kindness, your hospitality, your intense work ethic, and your courage in the face of extreme circumstances. I have never met such incredible people as you. They say actions speak louder than words. You are all about actions. Your perseverance has shown me how to be determined in my own life. Your courage has shown me how to be strong in difficult times. Your sacrifices have shown me that life is about giving to and helping others. You are my role models.

There is a quote that I love by Winston Churchill: “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.” You have dedicated yourselves so unselfishly to serve our country and do not ask for anything in return. I often hear service members say, “I do this so others don’t have to.” You do what you do so we can have our freedom, and there are no words to express my gratitude to you for your service and what you do on a daily basis. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do.

Please send me an e-mail at pinupsforvets@aol.com and let me know if you would like some calendars for your unit and I would be more than happy to send some to you! I autograph them all, and please let me know if you would like any special messages on them. It is the least I can do for you.

From a very thankful Pin-Up Girl,

Gina Elise

XOXO

Pretty awesome, huh? Please check out her website, Pin-Ups For Vets for more information on the project and/or if you would like to purchase a calendar or two. We are headed to Chicago next week to hand deliver T-Shirts and posters to a VA hospital there. : )

These are just a few of my favorite shots from her previous calendars.


And these are some favorite shots with Gina and I. Notice that my hair is different in each picture! Ha! Oh how I love living with a pin up who owns lots of wigs!