House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. – Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, will hold a screening of the documentary "All the Way Home" on The documentary follows a Montana fishing outfitter and his team of volunteers while they take severely injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from Walter Reed down an isolated river.

"There hasn’t been a movie or documentary or a creative piece like this that has moved me so much," say Shad Meshad, President and Founder of the National Veterans Foundation (NVF). The National Veterans Foundation runs "Lifeline for Vets," a crisis hotline that has fielded over a quarter of a million calls from veterans in need of emergency medical treatment, suicide intervention, post-traumatic stress disorder counseling, benefit advocacy, food, shelter, employment training or legal aid.

The screening will be followed by an opportunity to discuss the documentary and related veterans’ issues with Filmmaker Edward Nachtrieb, Chairman Filner and Shad Meshad of NFV.

Who:   
Chairman Bob Filner, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Shad Meshad, Founder of National Veterans Foundation
Edward Nachtrieb, Filmmaker/Documentarian 

What: 
Screening of the documentary “All the Way Home” followed by a media availability with Chairman Bob Filner and others 

When:  
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Movie Screening)
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Media availability)

Where:  
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
334 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

"This is a powerful documentary that really shows the realities faced by our wounded warriors – up close and personal," said Chairman Filner (D-CA). "It also shows what we can do – individuals, communities, neighborhoods – to help our veterans as they return home from war. What may seem insignificant can lead to powerful changes for our heroes and ourselves."

###

National Veterans Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) human service organization. Since 1985, the National Veterans Foundation’s main focus is to provide the crisis management, information and referral needs of all U.S. Veterans and their families through (1) a toll free Lifeline for Vets that is available to all veterans and their families; (2) public awareness to highlight the needs of America’s Veterans; and (3) outreach services provide veterans and families in need with food, clothing, transportation, employment, and other essential resources. For more information call toll free at 1-888-777-4443 or go online at www.helpnvf.org.

Three years ago, Montana fishing outfitter Mike Geary was inspired by news reports to organize fly fishing trips for disabled veterans down one of the American West’s most isolated rivers. In this film, we meet a group of veterans that reflects the diversity of challenges facing our returning soldiers. Some, on leave from Walter Reed Hospital, bear the obvious physical wounds of war while others cope with hidden traumas that are invisible, yet dangerous. With a backdrop of the breathtaking landscape of the American West, they share personal stories of war and the resulting challenges for them and their families after their return home. At the same time, a team of volunteers works tirelessly to make the trip an unforgettably positive experience.

Filmmaker and journalist Edward Nachtrieb's background includes series television, commercials and international photojournalism. For the last three years, Ed has served as Supervising Producer and Director for the Travel Channel’s "John Ratzenberger’s Made in America." He skipped season five of that show to make the time to produce "All The Way Home." Prior to his career in Los Angeles, Ed was based in New Mexico where he created documentaries focused on Native American health issues as well as music videos and commercials. Ed’s still photography has been featured in magazines and newspapers worldwide. As Reuters Chief Photographer in China from 1987 through 1989, he documented the massacre of pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square and its aftermath as well as ethnic unrest in western China and Tibet.