Cedarhurst Memorial Day Parade

Today I finally got my sash!! Complications caused my banner to be delayed the past two months so I have been in limbo. Alas, I am now complete and ready to rock!

Perfect timing since today I was invited along with sister queen Kasey Waters, Miss Greater Gotham, and the new Nassau County's Outstanding Teen Alissa Gianotti to take part in theCedarhust Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies.

A huge thanks to our friends at the Italian Club for letting us jump on their float. We rode through town (with the marching band was playing Bad Romance) to the village park. There, we enjoyed a ceremony lead by village Mayor Andrew Parise. He is a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, and like all vets I have met from that battle he sure had spunk. Highlights of the ceremonie included Lawrence High School's band and Select Singers, Michael Weinstein's performance of his original song, "Field of Honor", and the 9/11 Memorial Benediction by Rev. Paul Rahilly. The entire day felt like a big family reunion, it is clear that this community has a strong sense of unity and support for one another.

Thank you to the Cedarhust community for letting us spend the morning with you! And thanks to the sun for the wonderful tank-top tan lines.

One Week Till Central Park Challenge

It's one week until the Central Park Challenge and I am thrilled that in just the week and a half since I got my donations page up, we have already reached over $600 in donations! I am excited to see how close we get to my goal of $1000 for YAI Networks.

If you want to make a donation, visit my Central Park Challenge Page to find out how! My team, Kaitlin's Bully Busters, is competing in honor of all people who have been bullied for their disabilities.

I am excited to walk on Saturday in honor of my sister and brother, but also in honor of everyone who has reached out to me sharing their stories. With these donations, we are providing programs for our neighbors so they can be confident, skilled, and able to prove that nothing, not even a disability, can get in the way of their potential!

Military Breakfast with The Mayor

I had the distinct honor of being invited to Gracie Mansion to attend Mayor Michael Bloomberg's breakfast reception for the Navy this morning. I ran into a number of sailors who I had met earlier this week on the USS Iwo Jima. Bloomberg spoke, as did Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus who spoke beautifully about the strength and skill of his men. It was a beautiful garden breakfast with beautiful weather, and wonderful to see the Mayor honor our Navy!

Amateur Night at The Apollo

The Liberty Bells were the featured guests tonight for Amateur Night at the Apollo. We sang for a packed house in one of the most exhilarating performances of my life. Our performance of God Bless America brought the house down. I still cannot get over having performed on the same stage as so many legends before me. A huge thank you to The Apollo Theater for their unbelievable hospitality. And yes, we rubbed the wood for luck!

Pepsi Welcome Home BBQ

This morning I got to attend Pepsi Co.'s BBQ Celebration on board the USS Iwo Jima. Marines and Sailors sat down for a wonderful meal sponsored by Pepsi before heading off into the Big Apple. The girls and I sat down with them, listening to stories and joking all morning. We tipped them off as to where the best fun is to be had in this city. Of course, the best fun was actually happening right there. Thank you to Pepsi Co. for all their support during Fleet Week!

Also in attendance were 45 of the Miss USA contestants, who were visiting to celebrate Fleet Week. Best of luck to all the girls as they prepare for their competition in Las Vegas. Special shout out to my girl Jessica Chuckran, Miss Alaska USA!

USS Iwo Jima

Fleet Week is all about the ships coming in, full of excited Marines and Sailors. This year, I got to be among them!

After my event this morning, I boarded a CH-53 and took off into the Atlantic Ocean. 45 minutes later we landed on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima. We were there to perform, celebrate, and had the tremendous privilege of spending the night on board!

The helicopter ride was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Let me preface by saying I am terrified of helicopters. But why better to take me in these dangerous machines than our Military! Our flight was about 45 minutes and such a blast. We couldn't hear because of the roar, but we were all smiles as we watched the Statue of Liberty disappear in the distance out the back hatch (which remained open the whole flight. Incredible!)

That night, the USO Liberty Bells performed on board the USS Iwo Jima. This is the part for which I have waited two and a half years since signing up as a USO Liberty Bell. We entered the hanger bay and were met by hundreds of cheering Marines and Sailors, ready to celebrate their wonderful work for our country. After our show, a dance party broke out. The ensuing dance-off was won by none other than the Master Chief! We spent hours laughing, singing, dancing, and playing in a room full of the bravest, strongest, most honorable young men in the world. I had to be pulled off the dance floor by our boss because the other Bells were ready for bed. I wanted to stay all night!

Thank you to the fantastic crew of the USS Iwo Jima for your tremendous hospitality on board the ship. It was unforgettable.

A Special Note: The young marine who was killed when hit by a car the following morning was one of the men from the Iwo Jima, and possibly pictured above. Please send your thoughts and prayers to his family and to the crew of the Iwo Jima for their loss.

"Be A Hero, Hire A Hero" Breakfast

This morning I had the pleasure of attending the "Be A Hero, Hire A Hero" VIP Breakfast at the New Yorker Hotel with my fellow Liberty Bells, which was the kickoff to Hire Disability Solutions' 2011 Military Career Expo.

Hire Disability Solutions' "Be A Hero, Hire A Hero" initiative aims to help returning Veterans transition back into the workforce. In partnership with Veterans Across America and The New York Times, this career expo was one of the largest global Veteran's career expos ever held. Dozens of companies set up booths where Veterans could come to learn about career opportunities. By the end of the day, several hundred men and women will be hired into new career paths.

As part of the celebration of this wonderful event, the guests were allowed to sign a special postcard that will be sent to Washington to thank SEAL Team Six. These men are examples of the highly intelligent, skilled, and selfless people we have working in our military. Every Navy SEAL and member of our military is just as highly qualified, and these companies are lucky to have them on their staff. Congratulations to all the new hires from the expo!

Central Park Challenge

I am excited to announce that on June 4th I will be taking part in the Central Park Challenge 3K walk!

The Central Park Challenge will raise funds for YAI Network, an organization that provides programs and services for people living with disabilities throughout the Southern New York area.

This mission is dear to me. My sister grew up with severe Dyslexia. My brother grew up with epilepsy, which later developed into Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. They live successful lives today thanks to a number of programs like those offered by YAI. I have seen how with just a few of the right tools, both their lives have grown.

My team, Kaitlin's Bully Busters, is participating in honor of all people who have been bullied for their disabilities. Growing up, I watched my siblings be ridiculed for their differences. So much so, that I saw their spirits completely broken at times. My sister dropped her second major in the last semester of college because one teacher had ridiculed her so much, that she could not bare to take her final course with him. It took her years to overcome his words. But, I know that a disability is only a scratch on the surface of a much bigger person inside. No one has the right to make someone feel inferior because of a disability. Some people have to do things differently in this world, but different does not mean bad. I am proud to support an organization like YAI, whose services help our neighbors with disabilities feel confident in the world around them.

You can help me reach my goal by June 4th!

Make a donation to my team and help us reach our fundraising goal! I am excited to see how much we can get in just over two weeks! I hope you can take a minute and visit my Central Park Challenge Page to learn more about my connection to this mission and perhaps make a donation!

If you would like to join our team and walk with us, you are more than welcome!

Visit my page here: http://support.yai.org/site/TR/Events/CPC2011?px=1393579&pg=personal&fr_id=1090

The RA's

I am thrilled to announce that I am part of the cast of the developing new web series The RA's, in the role of Summer!

The RA's is a web series set to premier in September. The concept won the 2011 New York Television Festival/Writers Guild of America East Pitch Contest. It is the story of a group of college RA's in the late 90's.

Spot me in the new first-look, behind the scenes preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z96UonOx70o&feature=channel_video_title

You can follow the project on Twitter and Facebook as we begin filming!

Playwrights Workshop

This weekend was the Polaris North Playwrights Workshop. I performed in two of the new works, STREET THEATER: A CHANCE ENCOUNTER and 10 EASY QUESTIONS.

Playwrights Workshop is a presentation of new plays that are in their first phase of performance. The performances allow the playwrights to continue to develop their scripts by seeing them activated by actors. Five works were performed.

Thank you to all the friends and family who came out to support this event! Your donations will allow the program to continue to develop and produce art and entertainment for future audiences!

BAE Systems Bike Giveaway

Today I got to help at a Bike Giveaway sponsored by BAE Systems. Over 100 bicycles were given away to children of active duty military.

Alongside fellow Liberty Bell Cassie Chesnut, we performed for the guests and spent the day helping register the children with their bikes. I even got to make balloon animals (I didn't know I knew how to make them until today!)

One mother approached our USO organizer and told us that she had six children, and their youngest had been riding a bike that five brothers and sisters had used before her. She said she would never have been able to afford new bicycles for all six at once. We were all pleased to watch the six of them riding about the gym together in a moment of equality.

A huge thank you to BAE Systems and all their volunteers, as well as the USO, for helping make this event possible. An even bigger thank you to the wives, husbands, and children of our active duty military. They make such a tremendous sacrifice, we owe them our deepest thanks!!