Florida Crusader for Peace Receives U.S. Marine Corps League’s Distinguished Citizens Award

J. Robert Gordon Recognized for Orphans of War Campaign

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — J. Robert Gordon, founder and executive director of the American Health Association, headquartered in Boca Raton, FL., has received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the United States Marine Corps League for his efforts to bring humanity to war zones, rebuild nations, and support our military abroad with a “collateral love instead of collateral damage” symbolized by the Orphans of War Campaign.

To date, Gordon has shipped 1.2 million Teddy bears and other assorted stuffed animals to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The troops in turn distribute their new fuzzy friends to the children of both nations. The results have been beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined.

“We know from the letters we receive that our unusual emissaries of peace have been credited with saving the lives of many soldiers from all branches of the military,” says Gordon, who started the program shortly after fighting began in Iraq. “The troops write us that when they distribute teddies to children caught in the horrors of war, the fuzzy little critters create a bond between soldier and child, often the family as well,” he says.

As a result of this simple gesture of friendship, the kids and their parents often go out of their way to warn our service men and women about buildings, back alleys and roads to avoid, even which village could be deadly if they enter. “Sometimes it all comes down to a child’s subtle and cautionary shake of the head, a thumbs down or other simple gesture that spells the difference between being relatively safe or being caught in a trap while traveling on roads and through villages and buildings littered with hidden explosive devices and waiting gunman,” adds Gordon.

War is a failure of peace claims recipient

Mr. Gordon now rises to the rank of one of America’s most decorated civilians with not just the Distinguished Citizens medal, but with seven others for his crusading efforts to bring peace to the world. “War is obsolete as a means to an end in the 21st Century and should only be legal when all other means fail, “says Gordon. “War is a failure of peace.”

Lt. General John Castellaw at the recently held 233rd annual Marine Corps Ball presented the Distinguished Citizen Award to J. Robert Gordon. The honoree was additionally cited for chairing the annual Palm Beach County Salute to Veteran’s Gala Luncheon, a highlight of Veteran’s Day recognition across the State of Florida.

Jesus Pintos, Vice Commandant of the United States Marine Corps League,

General A.A. Vandegrift Detachment said “Gordon represents American public citizenry at its best. His American Volunteer Corps has come through in time of wars to help save the lives of our brave men and women in uniform in harm’s way and help with relationship building that in the end will help win these wars. In our eyes he’s an American hero.”

“I believe,” says Gordon, “that as war efforts increase in Afghanistan, our emphasis on winning hearts and minds through humanitarian gestures will always be more powerful than any battleground victory. Our Teddy Bear Army, symbolic of love and goodwill, will continue to endure and help America triumph in the end.”

The American Health Association is a multi-award 501(C)-3 charity. It has been a pioneer in preventative health and wellness for over a decade. It is dedicated to offering humanitarian services through its American Volunteer Corps, with global outreach to 46 countries and members in 37 States. It is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Websites include www.orphansofwarcampaign.org or: www.americanhealthfoundation.com.

Pictures of J. R. Gordon, Lt. General John Castellaw placing the Distinguished Citizen’s Medal, together with Iraqi families and children and American Soldiers are mostly online.

SOURCE American Health Society