General Tommy Franks Announced as Evening Keynote Speaker with Special Musical Performances by Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant & Friends

NASHVILLE (Feb. 16, 2010) - General Tommy Franks (Ret.) has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at the evening portion of Operation Yellow Ribbon, presented by Challenge America and Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, March 23. Special acoustic performances by Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant and a host of other musicians will also be a part of the evening activities.

Operation Yellow Ribbon features a daylong symposium with the theme of "solutions for transition from battlefield to home front for returning military and their families." Breakout sessions will address a variety of topics, including ones related to returning injured military and adapting to life after those injuries.

"Partnering with Lipscomb University, which links returning military to education opportunities, is a natural fit for Challenge America and its mission of connecting injured military with the resources needed to establish a 'new normal' life," said Houston Cowan, founder and executive director of Challenge America. "The symposium will facilitate conversation among industry leaders and the military and family members themselves about real solutions to the most pressing transition issues."

Capping off the day's events, Franks will address attendees at Lipscomb's Allen Arena. Special musical appearances by Daniels and Grant are also scheduled for the 7 p.m. event.

Admission to the symposium is by invitation only. A limited number of tickets for the evening event with Franks, Daniels and Grant will go on sale for $10 on February 15 at the Lipscomb University box office and through Ticketmaster. Members of the military and their families will be invited as guests of the event's corporate sponsors. Proceeds from the evening event benefit Lipscomb University's Yellow Ribbon Program.

Lipscomb's Yellow Ribbon Program offers eligible military veterans and their family members an undergraduate degree tuition-free or a graduate degree at a greatly reduced tuition rate.

The mission of Challenge America is to work with communities across the United States in linking new and existing services and supporting the development of recreational and occupational programs to better serve returning injured military and their families. At present, over 300 resources for injured military and their families are listed on the Challenge America website at www.challengeamerica.com with more resources across the country being added daily.