BY KAREN BOSSICK
Retired Gen. James. L. Jones, of the U.S. Marine Corps, will be the keynote speaker for the eighth annual Higher Ground Hero’s Journey on Thursday, July 5.
The fundraising dinner and auction, which draws a sold-out crowd of more than 500 each year, will be held this year at River Grove Ranch near Hailey.
Jones served as a platoon and company commander in South Vietnam in 1967, the first of many assignments. He later served as commander of the U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2003 to 2006. Jones was the 32nd commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1999 to January 2003.
The General retired in 2007 after 40 years of service but he remained involved in national security and foreign policy issues. He has chaired the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, Iraqi police and armed forces. And he’s been special envoy for Middle East Security.
Jones also served as chairman of the Atlantic Council and as a National Security Advisor.
The goal of the Hero’s Journey is to celebrate the nation’s heroes and raise funds for Higher Ground programs. Higher Ground provide therapeutic recreation, such as adaptive skiing and off-road cycling, for returning veterans who suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other physical disabilities.
The Hero’s Journey has attracted such thought provoking speakers as Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta in the past.
For more information, visit www.highergroundusa.org.