CLEARWATER, Fla., July 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On August 4, in honor of National Purple Heart Day, the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is hosting a banquet for veterans and their families. The event will be held at Clearwater’s Fort Harrison, the Church of Scientology’s international religious retreat. Veterans, families of veterans and Purple Heart Recipients are invited to attend this complimentary dinner celebration and remembrance.

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization and the Florida Chapter of the Florida Citizens for Social Reform will honor National Purple Heart Day on Saturday, August 4th at the historic Fort Harrison.

The event will start out with presentation of the colors by an active duty Marine Corps Color Guard. This will be followed by the National Anthem and reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

There will be several guest speakers, including Army Veteran, Mr. Adolfo Valero. Mr. Valero is now working in the field of law, focusing on representing veterans when they need help the most.

In keeping with the topic of honoring US heroes, CCHR Florida President, Ms. Diane Stein, will address the subject of veterans being abused through prescription medication.

“According to official reports, 1.85 million veterans filled at least one psychiatric drug prescription in a single year and many are on a cocktail of psychiatric drugs,” said Ms. Stein, “This is while the rate of suicides among veterans that use VA services has increased by 12% between 2003 and 2014 and the VA mental health budget has more than doubled from 2003 to 2016, climbing from a hefty $3 billion to an outrageous $7.5 billion.”

The Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights is a non-religious, non-governmental, non-profit watchdog organization that seeks to eradicated human rights abuses in the field of mental health.

For more information about the Purple Heart Day Banquet or CCHR, please call (727) 442-8820 or email info@cchrflorida.org.

The Fort Harrison Religious Retreat:

Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison in Downtown Clearwater has been the home for many community events and charitable organizations. The Fort Harrison’s current owner, the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, has hosted over 500 community events there since a top-to-bottom restoration in 2009. The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard, and incorporated in 1954. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org.

Dylan Pires
(727) 467-6860

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/78bb7140-bd32-4f1c-bde0-07a291d36a56