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Veterans United Home Loans launches national campaign to send messages to Guardsmen and heroes serving on frontlines of COVID-19

April 28, 2020

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The nation’s largest VA lender, Veterans United Home Loans, is launching #HereForOurHeroes, a campaign to write messages of support to National Guardsmen, first responders, healthcare workers and other military personnel who are serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Messages of support can be submitted online and will be printed on postcards and sent with Operation Gratitude care packages.

“Since 1636, Guardsman have stood at the ready assisting citizens across the United States,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall, 3rd Senior Enlisted Advisor National Guard Bureau. “Today, they stand again on the front lines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving a letter of gratitude shows Guardsmen how much they’re valued and appreciated.”

In addition to the online message writing campaign, Veterans United pledged $250,000 in financial support to Operation Gratitude for care packages shipments to 50,000 military COVID-19 front line responders. Shipments have already been distributed to 14,450 National Guard personnel deployed in California, New York, Louisiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Delaware and Florida.

“Community support can be a huge morale booster during emergency responses,” said John Quin, director of communications at Veterans United Home Loans who has served on several state emergency missions with the National Guard. “We hope this can enhance the lives of service members and first responders. The sacrifices they are making across the country are key to getting us through this pandemic.”

The national campaign uses the #HereForOurHeroes. Visit veteransunited.com/operation-gratitude/ for additional information.

Veterans United Facts

  • $34 billion
    in loans financed in 2022
  • Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipient
    by the Secretary of Defense
  • More than 4,300 employees
    in more than 36 states
  • More than $130 million
    raised for nonprofit charitable arm, Veterans United Foundation since Nov. 2011
  • No. 8 Best Place to Work
    according to Glassdoor Best Places to Work in 2022

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Media Team

Chad Moller
Communications Manager
(573) 876-2600 ext. 6924
communications@vu.com

Tierre Banks
Sr. Media Relations Specialist
(800) 814-1103 ext. 3220
Tierre.Banks@vu.com

Meet The Expert

Chris Birk, Vice President of Mortgage Insight at Veterans United Chris Birk
Author, The Book on VA Loans

Chris is the nation’s leading expert on VA Loan benefits. He authored The Book on VA Loans in 2011, and maintains the VA Loans Insider blog. His analysis and articles have appeared at a host of sites and publications, including the Washington Post, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, USA Today, the Houston Chronicle and more. Members of the media may request a free copy of The Book on VA Loans to learn more about the VA loan program.

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