Jon Stoltz of Vote Vets deplyed to Iraq.

[elleng]

I am writing to let you know that I am taking a one-year leave of absence from VoteVets.org, because I am being deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. I will be back at VoteVets.org in January, 2012.

I know your first question is how does this affect the future of VoteVets.org? The answer is, “It doesn’t.”

The group won’t miss a beat – continuing its work on the same issues of importance to veterans – from veterans health care, to energy independence – with interim Chairman, and Iraq War Veteran, Ashwin Madia, who has been our Vice Chairman since 2009. The rest of the VoteVets.org infrastructure will remain the same.

What we have been able to build, with your help, is a solid organization from top to bottom. With over 100,000 supporters, alliances forged from coast to coast, and a spectacular cadre of staff and advisors, I have no doubt that with your continued support VoteVets.org won’t just survive while I am in Iraq – it will thrive.

I want to say a word about Ashwin, who will be assuming Chairman duties. Ashwin is as an energetic, determined, principled, and skilled person as there is. Before VoteVets.org was even around, Ashwin was fighting for what was right. A lawyer by trade, in the Marines, Ashwin was one of the first military attorneys to successfully defend a gay servicemember from discharge. As someone who ran for Congress, Ashwin also has a keen and personal understanding of how politics works. As Vice Chairman of VoteVets.org, he knows how we operate, and will continue operations seamlessly. I have no doubt that you’ll be impressed with Ashwin as I am, as you get to know him.

In closing, it is somewhat fitting that I am writing to tell you this on Veterans’ Day. In many ways, a veteran’s service never ends. I was in Iraq to start the war, and then came home to form a group that would ask tough questions about the war’s execution. That was four years ago. And, now, I will go back to Iraq, because my country called, and because I so strongly believe in my duty to be there to lead the soldiers in my unit. When I get back, I will return to serving my country, and my fellow veterans, by rejoining VoteVets.org.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done to help veterans, and what you will continue to do to keep VoteVets.org the largest and most successful progressive veterans organization in the country.

Sincerely,

Jon Soltz

[DoBotherMe]

1. Please stay safe, Jon!

:patriot: Dana ; )

[FSogol]

2. Stay safe Jon and keep up the good work. n/t