Latest news with #DisabledAmericanVeterans
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A&W Restaurants offers free root beer floats on National Root Beer Float Day
National Root Beer Float Day is celebrated every year on Aug. 6 and one restaurant chain is offering customers a sweet deal on the day. A&W Restaurants said in a July 30 news release that customers can visit participating locations from 2-8 p.m. local time today and get a free small root beer float, no purchase necessary. The company says its root beer float is made fresh with its signature root beer and rich, creamy vanilla soft serve. Additionally, the company has partnered with Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit that provides resources and services to veterans and their families. Customers are encouraged to make a voluntary donation or purchase a commemorative, limited-edition collector's mug. Every dollar raised through donations and mug sales directly benefits DAV, helping veterans access healthcare, employment assistance, and transportation to medical appointments, among other services, according to A&W Restaurants. The mugs are available through Aug. 6 and will cost $10. This year's mug features Rooty the Great Root Bear, A&W's mascot. "National Root Beer Float Day is one of our favorite days of the year, because not only do we love putting smiles on our guests' faces with free treats, but we proudly give back to the people who have bravely served our country," said Betsy Schmandt, CEO and President of A&W Restaurants, in a news release. To find an A&W location near you and to learn more about National Root Beer Float Day, customers can visit More news: Krispy Kreme's Pumpkin Spice Menu: See the doughnuts, lattes coming in August How many A&W locations are there? According to the chain, it operates over 850 locations across 35 U.S. states and Asia, of which over 600 are single-brand A&Ws and 230 are co-branded with KFC or Long John Silver's. The chain is known for its root beer, which it says is based on the original 1919 recipe and made fresh in each restaurant with real cane sugar, water, and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices, and berries served in a frosty mug. A&W's food menu features items such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, cheese curds, and French fries, among other items. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A&W Restaurants giving away free root beer floats: Here's why
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
A&W Restaurants offers free root beer floats on National Root Beer Float Day
National Root Beer Float Day is celebrated every year on Aug. 6 and one restaurant chain is offering customers a sweet deal on the day. A&W Restaurants said in a July 30 news release that customers can visit participating locations from 2-8 p.m. local time today and get a free small root beer float, no purchase necessary. The company says its root beer float is made fresh with its signature root beer and rich, creamy vanilla soft serve. Additionally, the company has partnered with Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit that provides resources and services to veterans and their families. Customers are encouraged to make a voluntary donation or purchase a commemorative, limited-edition collector's mug. Every dollar raised through donations and mug sales directly benefits DAV, helping veterans access healthcare, employment assistance, and transportation to medical appointments, among other services, according to A&W Restaurants. The mugs are available through Aug. 6 and will cost $10. This year's mug features Rooty the Great Root Bear, A&W's mascot. "National Root Beer Float Day is one of our favorite days of the year, because not only do we love putting smiles on our guests' faces with free treats, but we proudly give back to the people who have bravely served our country," said Betsy Schmandt, CEO and President of A&W Restaurants, in a news release. To find an A&W location near you and to learn more about National Root Beer Float Day, customers can visit More news: Krispy Kreme's Pumpkin Spice Menu: See the doughnuts, lattes coming in August How many A&W locations are there? According to the chain, it operates over 850 locations across 35 U.S. states and Asia, of which over 600 are single-brand A&Ws and 230 are co-branded with KFC or Long John Silver's. The chain is known for its root beer, which it says is based on the original 1919 recipe and made fresh in each restaurant with real cane sugar, water, and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices, and berries served in a frosty mug. A&W's food menu features items such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, cheese curds, and French fries, among other items. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Int'l Business Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Fighting for Veterans, Not Fees: Eric Gang's Mission to Protect the Vulnerable and Reform the Veterans Legal System
Veterans today face a claims process that looks nothing like it did decades ago. What was once a straightforward path to benefits has transformed into a medically and legally intricate system. For many veterans, it is simply too complex to navigate alone. According to Eric Gang, founder of Gang & Associates, this evolution in the law requires a corresponding shift in how we think about legal support for veterans. Gang's legal career spans more than 25 years, much of which has focused on fighting for disabled veterans. During that time, he has seen the legal landscape transform, particularly after two landmark changes. In 2007, a law dating back to the Civil War, one that limited attorney fees to $10, was repealed. Then, in 2017, the Appeals Modernization Act overhauled the entire structure of the claims process, replacing a framework that had been in place since the 1930s. "Today's cases are not just about a sore knee or a broken bone," Gang explains. "We are dealing with complex exposures like Agent Orange and burn pits, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and connecting those conditions to military service is scientifically and legally challenging." While veterans have access to a range of free services, including assistance from state-run veterans departments and nonprofit service organizations like the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, Gang says these options don't always go far enough. "Ninety percent of claims can be handled without a lawyer," he says. "But the remaining ten percent? Those require legal expertise, and often, serious financial investment." That investment is where Gang & Associates steps in. The firm often fronts the cost for expert witnesses and medical evaluations, expenses that can total tens of thousands of dollars. "We don't charge interest. We don't take commission," Gang says. "If we win the case, we recover our costs. If we lose, the veteran owes nothing." Gang emphasizes that his firm doesn't compete with free resources; they complement them. "We always encourage veterans to start with free help," he says. "If that works, great. But if it doesn't, and you have a difficult case, that's when legal professionals like us come in." But the landscape is increasingly crowded with unaccredited individuals offering paid services for tasks that are often free elsewhere. Gang calls these individuals and companies "claim sharks", non-lawyers who exploit legal loopholes to charge veterans exorbitant fees for filing basic claims. These entities often avoid VA accreditation because being accredited would prevent them from charging for initial claims, a stage at which federal law prohibits fees. "Accreditation is not hard," Gang says. "There's a test that can be passed by attending some lectures and doing some reading. But they avoid it because once they are accredited, they can't charge for the simple stuff." Even more concerning, says Gang, is the lack of federal enforcement. While charging fees for initial claims remains illegal, the criminal penalties are stripped away, leaving the law toothless. Some companies, buoyed by millions in lobbying dollars, are pushing to legalize their practices at the state level and even prepare to go public with nine-figure revenues. "These outfits are raking in money doing what service organizations do for free," Gang says. "And it's the veterans who suffer, especially those who are older, homeless, or mentally ill and vulnerable to deceptive marketing." Gang believes the solution lies in professionalization, regulation, and, crucially, education. His firm regularly publishes legal updates for service officers nationwide and supports their role in the ecosystem. But he also wants organizations to recognize when a case exceeds their capacity. "You can't go to federal court without a lawyer," he says. "You can't hire expert witnesses without funding. And you can't win complex cases without both." One of Gang's clients, a Vietnam-era veteran, suffered from a brain tumor allegedly caused by contaminated water exposure at a Marine Corps base. The VA denied his claim. Gang hired several experts and secured a huge amount in back pay. In another case, a Korean War veteran's widow received a significant amount after Gang proved a decades-old autoimmune disease was service-connected, a conclusion only reached through expert dental and medical analysis. "These veterans would have received nothing without legal intervention," Gang says. The firm's model, risking its own capital without charging interest, sets it apart in a field where many others charge compounding rates or demand payment upfront. "We have skin in the game," Gang says. "That's what advocacy should look like." At the heart of Gang's message is a call to reframe the public perception of lawyers. "Not every lawyer is a predator. We are not all the same," he says. "We are not here to take from veterans, we are here to fight for the cases no one else can win." His advice to veterans is simple: "Start with the free services. They are great. But if they don't work, don't give up. Find a licensed, accredited attorney who knows this field and is willing to fight for you the right way." The law has changed. The system is more complex. And while free help remains essential, Gang & Associates believes it's time to acknowledge the indispensable role of skilled, ethical lawyers, especially when the stakes couldn't be higher.
Fox News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
GREAT AMERICANS: Gary Sinise, Actor, Author, Musician, and Founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation
On today's edition of the Guy Benson Show and Fox News Audio's Great Americans series, Gary Sinise, actor, author, musician & founder of Gary Sinise Foundation joined the program. Sinise's stage, film and television career has spanned more than four decades. In 1974, at 18 years old, he co-founded Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. 20 years later, for his performance as Lt Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, he received nominations for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards, and earned the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Board of Review and the Commander's Award from the Disabled American Veterans. Other film credits include Apollo 13, Ransom, Snake Eyes, Impostor, The Green Mile, Mission to Mars and The Human Stain. For over 40 years, Gary has stood as an advocate on behalf of America's service members. In 2003, after several USO handshake tours, he formed the 'Lt. Dan Band' and began entertaining troops serving at home and abroad. Over the years, the 13-piece cover band has performed hundreds of shows for charities and fundraisers supporting wounded heroes, Gold Star families, veterans and troops around the world. In 2011, to expand upon his individual efforts, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation with the mission to serve and honor America's defenders, veterans, first responders, Gold Star families and those in need. The foundation remains committed to finding new and exciting ways to give back to those who sacrifice for our nation and encouraging others to do the same has become his personal quest and what he hopes will endure as a legacy of service to others. In 2008, he was given the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation. He is only the third actor ever to receive this honor. Listen to Guy's full interview with Gary Sinise below! Listen to the full interview below: Listen to more from the Guy Benson Show below:
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
VA clinic closed June 19 for Juneteenth — DAV services moved to 26th
Because the Hagerstown Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be closed June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday, the Disabled American Veterans service officer has rescheduled his availability to Thursday, June 26, according to a community announcement. The DAV Service Officer assists with VA claims for service members, veterans and their families. To schedule an appointment, call Ernie Unger at 301-842-2562 or 301-331-0091, or send an email to michelobqt@ This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. The Herald-Mail is growing its local news: Send your news to us This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Juneteenth holiday shifts DAV services in Hagerstown to June 26
