It was a great night organized to benefit the war veterans of America in a befitting manner. The Bob Woodruff Foundation managed to conduct the 2013 Stand Up for Heroes event on November 6 in terrific style by inviting a galaxy of celebrities to provide enormous entertainment, and ensured that the post-9/11 wounded veterans can look forward to live an honorable life. All the sacrifices made by the veterans definitely deserve a deal which will take care of them and their families when they return to their communities. No doubt, the 7th annual Stand Up for Heroes event, offered together by the Foundation in collaboration with the New York Comedy Festival at the new theater at Madison Square Garden, has once again reiterated that injured veterans are not going to be ignored by the society. Or, that’s what the $5 million record collection coming from more than 5,000 people goes to show.

Musical Extravaganza

The musical extravaganza by popular artistes such as Jim Gaffgan, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Cosby, Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, and Roger Waters, was simply scintillating, to say the least. The large number of war veterans who were among the distinguished gathering looked delighted to see so many celebrities coming together to perform for a genuine cause. Stars like Springsteen made it a point to come up with few surprise moments to generate unending excitement. Yes, this time Springsteen did not leave his guitar do all the talking. In fact, he offered some jokes that sent the audience in raptures. “I think this is the first night of comedy for a soldiers’ audience where the entire night went by without anybody telling any dirty jokes. I don’t get it…. I can’t let that happen. Older man’s having a hard time getting an erection…”, he remarked even as the gathering, comprising of eminent personalities from all walks of life, burst into laughter that roared across the venue.

Bob Woodruff

The war veterans owe a lot to ABC’s news anchor, Bob Woodruff, but for whose initiative such kind of public awareness wouldn’t have been possible. It was in January 2006 that Bob, covering the war in Iraq, was seriously injured by a bomb that went off by the roadside. The brain injury that Bob suffered almost cost him his life, and the recovery he showed was nothing less than a miracle, even for those who were treating him.

That incident prompted Bob and his family to think in terms of extending necessary help to the war veterans, who have no place to go when they return to lead a civilian life. Bob’s mission to provide the injured heroes a dignified life has met with tremendous response from the public, which has made the Stand Up for Heroes event a resounding success. Bob’s wife, Lee, was also instrumental in giving shape to her husband’s dreams. Bob’s memoir “In An Instant”, co-authored by Lee, which has recorded unprecedented sales, narrates in detail the amount of support he and his family received when they needed it the most.

For the benefit of millions of fans who could not watch the Stand Up for Heroes live, Bob Woodruff Foundation, along with Google+, had made elaborate arrangements to carry the proceedings online.