Watch Video of American Heroes

The "American Heroes" Vignettes to air During Live Coverage of the National Memorial Day Parade on May 30

The American Legion and Military Channel have teamed up to honor troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including three soldiers who never made it back home. A series of ten, one-minute vignettes, "American Heroes" premieres Memorial Day on the Military Channel, which co-sponsored the production with The American Legion -- the country's largest veterans service organization with about 2.5 million members worldwide.

Produced by Creative Street Entertainment, "American Heroes" vignettes include the dramatic and poignant stories of those who fell in battle, suffered severe injuries, helped repair war-torn communities, or made it home to help other wounded warriors. Each American hero is honored with a Norman Rockwell Moments portrait at the close of the vignette. The profiles will air on the Military Channel for an entire year, including with the network's live coverage of the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30 from 2 to 4 PM.

"The American Legion and The Military Channel are on the same page when it comes to honoring the men and women of our Armed Forces," American Legion National Commander Jimmie L. Foster said. "These messages indeed illustrate the honorable nature of military service, which is a guiding principle of The American Legion, as well as the sacrifices so many have made to protect our nation during the war. The men and women in these vignettes are the best of the best, and we are honored to help share their stories on The Military Channel."

The 11 individuals featured in the "American Heroes" vignettes are: Patrick Brady and his daughter, Meghan; David Brown, Tammy Duckworth, Dawn Halfaker, Nick Madaras, Jose Pequeno, Robert Posivio, Joseph Proctor, John Schatzel and Klay South. Madaras, Posivio and Proctor died in Iraq; Proctor received the Silver Star. Duckworth, an assistant secretary in the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, was a pilot who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down. Halfaker, vice president of the Wounded Warrior Project, lost an arm when an RPG exploded near her Humvee.

South, who founded the Veterans of Valor service organization, was shot while clearing out houses in Fallujah. Pequeno, whose story was told in the May 2009 issue of The American Legion Magazine, suffered severe traumatic brain injury from an IED explosion.

Patrick Brady, a retired Army major general, is a Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in Vietnam; his daughter, Meghan, has served in Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq. Schatzel helped to rebuild the Iraqi scouting program in Baghdad, and Brown — twice-injured in battle — now spends his days helping veterans recover from war and readjust to the world of peace.

About The American Legion: With a current membership of 2.5 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation. For more information, please visit www.legion.org

About Norman Rockwell Moments: Famed artist Norman Rockwell created classic images that celebrate America as no other artist in history. Portrait photographs are transformed through procedures that can turn any portrait photograph into a work of art as if the immortal Rockwell had painted it himself. This is the only process in the world to be so licensed by the Norman Rockwell Licensing Company and allowed to carry the Norman Rockwell Moments Brand. For more information, please visit www.normanrockwell.com

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