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Military Connection: New Book Glorifies Veterans: By Debbie Gregory

Attention all Veterans, history buffs and avid readers: a book about Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans will be hitting store shelves and online retailers soon.

The book, “For Love of Country: What our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” is a collaborative between long-time Veteran advocate and Starbucks chairman/CEO Howard Schultz, and 2006 National Book Award finalist and Washington Post editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran. The book will take readers through the struggles that Veterans face, both in combat and back home.

The book highlights the deeds and sacrifices made by Post-9/11 Veterans and their families, from acts of valor during the thick of the fight, to community leadership as civilian teachers, doctors, law enforcement and other occupations.

Since 2001, more than 2.5 million American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardsmen have been deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even with this seemingly high number, Veterans from this era only make up less than 1% of the American population. Schultz and Chandrasekaran co-authored the book in an effort to help the already sympathetic American public better understand what Veterans have and continue to experience as a result of their military service.

It has been reported that Schultz is donating his proceeds from the book to a charity. It is a foregone conclusion that the charity will benefit Veterans. Previously, Schultz pledged 10,000 jobs to Veterans and military spouses. With his wife, Sheri, he founded the Schultz Family Foundation that benefits Post-9/11 Veterans and “opportunity youth.” Earlier this year, the foundation donated $30 million for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury research. These ailments have plagued Veterans, especially the ones from recent conflicts.

This is not the first book written by either author. In 1997, Schultz co-authored “Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time,” and in 2011, he co-authored “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul.”

In 2006 Chandrasekaran wrote “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone,” the inspiration for the film Green Zone, starring Matt Damon. In 2012, he wrote “Little America: The War within the War for Afghanistan.”

“For Love of Country: What our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” is a recommended read for everyone. The book will be released on November 4, 2014. Advance copies are available for pre-order at your regular book retailers.

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