Disabled for Life Silver Dollar Coin to Support Veterans

Introduction

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The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar is one of only two commemorative coins to be issued by the United States Mint this year. In addition to being a keepsake commemorative, the surcharges collected from the sales of the silver dollar are authorized to benefit the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, the organization raising funds for the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in the nation's capital. The planned memorial will be the first in Washington, D.C. dedicated to disabled veterans across all service branches and all areas of conflict.

The collector proof and un-circulated silver coins have a maximum mintage of 350,000 coins. The United States Mint is offering the proof coin for $43.95 and the un-circulated coin for $35.95. Shipping and handling charges are additional.

"The coin is a reminder forever of the brave servicemen and women who risked, and continue to risk, their lives in defense of our country's liberty," said Arthur Wilson, DAV national adjutant and president of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation. "Each coin sold brings us one step closer to building a permanent, national memorial to disabled veterans."

The limited-edition commemorative coin honors the more than three million permanently disabled veterans living today and pays tribute to all deceased disabled veterans from throughout our nation's history. Each dollar is struck from 90% silver and 10% copper and features an image of the legs of three veterans on the obverse of the coin along with the inscription "THEY STOOD UP FOR US." The reverse shows a wreath of oak branches with a forget-me-not flower at its base. Inside the wreath is the inscription, "Take This Moment to Honor Our Disabled Defenders of Freedom." Both proof and un-circulated versions of the coin weigh 26.73 grams and measure 1.5 inches in diameter.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act was signed into law (Public Law 110-277) on July 17, 2008, to "pay tribute to the Nation's living disabled veterans by minting and issuing a commemorative silver dollar coin," according to the text of the legislation.

To purchase a 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar, please visit www.usmint.gov, or call 1-800-USA-MINT.

Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

For more information about the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, please visit www.avdlm.org.

About the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation:

The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. was created in 1998 through the combined efforts of philanthropist Lois Pope, foundation chairman; Arthur Wilson, national adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans; and the late Jesse Brown, former secretary of Veteran Affairs. Formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Foundation's sole objective is to raise the estimated $85 million in private funds needed to design, build and permanently maintain the nation's first memorial dedicated to living and deceased disabled veterans - The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

Commanding an impressive two-acre site between Washington Avenue SW, C Street SW and Second Street SW, the Memorial will be within full view of the United States Capitol, adjacent to the National Mall, and across from Independence Avenue and the United States Botanic Garden. Soon, thanks to the efforts led by the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc., and supported by veterans as well as concerned and generous citizens and corporations, these soldiers will have a permanent memorial in the nation's capital that will pay tribute to their sacrifices.