Photo credit: Janet Donovan
“Going public with what happened to me has never been a burden,” Bob Woodruff told Hollywood on the Potomac at the 5th Anniversary of Blue Star Families. “At least it’s got a real mission to do something for those that have come back and didn’t get the same turnout that I did.”
On January 29, 2006, while reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces, ABC News anchor Woodruff was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq and suffered a traumatic brain injury which he and wife Lee chronicled in a 2007 book: In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing. Subsequently, he founded The Bob Woodruff Foundation.
Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition with Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition
“I’m not sure that our veterans are being treated all that much better,” Tim Daly told us backstage. “If they were, they wouldn’t be committing suicide at the rate they are.” The comment was in response to the differences of how veterans have been treated over the years. “I think that in some sense it’s a national shame that so many of our veterans are facing such desperate challenges.”
The National Anthem launched the ceremony by presenting a special recognition award to The Creative Coalition. Hosted in partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Blue Star Families also spotlighted First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces nationwide initiative, and recognized Mark Johnson, 2015 Blue Star Neighbor of the Year, for “going above and beyond” to support military families.
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D.Fla) with Colonel Adam Rocke
Guests who wandered throughout the spacious auditorium amongst what seemed like a thousand people, took respite in the food stations by top chefs who also paired with military chefs. Among them Robert Wiedmaier who paired with Sgt. Mike Leo (Air Force) who wants to pair up with Wiedmaier when he completes his service and The Travel Channel’s David Gaus who paired with CS1 Ian Brown (Navy).
Polly and Robert Wiedmaier
Bob Woodruff, Tim Daly and Rep. Patrick Murphy speak out on behalf of Blue Star Families
