Theragenics Corporation, a medical device company serving the surgical products and cancer treatment markets, announced that it has partnered with the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to honouring America's veterans.

Theragenics' support will facilitate transport of more than 400 World War II (WWII) veterans to the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. this year. Eric L. Haney, Command Sergeant Major (ret.) will be Theragenics' spokesperson for this partnership, Haney is a veteran of some of the Army's most demanding combat units, including combat Infantry, Ranger and Delta Force. Haney will lend his voice to the To Honor. To Cure. initiative and help encourage veterans -- and their families -- to make their health a priority and to know their treatment options if diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Theragenics will sponsor 10 Honor Flights from cities nationwide between April and November, providing funding that will allow the veterans to travel at no cost to them. Without this assistance, many might not otherwise see the monument dedicated to their service and receive the honour they deserve.

"We are proud to partner with Honor Flight in this important effort. Our partnership will not only facilitate travel to Washington and pay tribute to these servicemen and women, but will develop a network among veterans to disseminate information about men's health and prostate cancer," M. Christine Jacobs, Theragenics Chairman and CEO, said.

Theragenics selected Haney to serve as the spokesperson for the Company's To Honor. To Cure. programme because of his extensive military experience and ability to connect with veterans from each generation. Haney will travel on many of the flights sponsored by Theragenics delivering the campaign's message of knowing your options for prostate cancer treatment. He will interact with veterans on the flights and at annual conventions, listening to their stories then blogging about his experiences on ToHonorToCure.com.

Haney not only served in some of the Army's most demanding combat units, but he was an early operational member of Delta Force. His book Inside Delta Force served as the basis for the acclaimed CBS series "The Unit." Haney is participating in the program because he saw how prostate cancer affected personal friends. Because their cancer was detected early, they ultimately realized a positive outcome.

"I believe this programme will create heightened awareness of prostate cancer among this critical audience of military men and their families," Haney said. "We will encourage veterans and their family members to get checked and know their options if diagnosed. Regular checks are so important because early detection can make a huge difference in the lives of prostate cancer patients and their families. I'm really happy to have the opportunity to make a difference with To Honor. To Cure."

Making the initiative personal and more meaningful, Jacobs will travel on the Honor Flight Sept. 12, out of Ft. Myers, FL with her father, Cadre and Army Staff Sgt. Raymond (Ray) Leo Jacobs, who served from 1943 to 1946 in the infantry. He was stationed both stateside as a trainer and in Inchon and Taegu, Korea. Other Theragenics employees will travel, some with family members and some as volunteer guardians, aboard flights from the Atlanta area in May and September.

Honor Flight Network was founded in May 2005 by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. Morse learned that many of his WWII veteran patients were not physically or financially able to visit their memorial in Washington, which was completed in May 2004. He founded Honor Flight to honor these veterans and, through donations, fly them to Washington free of charge.

Based on recent 2008 statistics, we are losing WWII veterans at the rate of approximately 1,000 per day because of their senior age. Theragenics recognized the sense of urgency to help Honor Flight get more WWII veterans to their memorial and with Honor Flight discovered an opportunity to promote each other's cause among an expanded veteran population through a partnership.

"In some cases, Theragenics' sponsorship is permitting a new hub to take an inaugural flight," said Jim McLaughlin, Honor Flight Network chairman. "In many communities, this first flight and the ensuing publicity galvanizes the community to honour their local World War II veterans. This local sense of pride may well lead to a second or third flight. That is how this programme grows."

According to the American Cancer Society, one in every six men will get prostate cancer and more than 28,000 men will die from the disease this year. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men (after lung cancer), but if diagnosed early, prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers.

A 2008 study showed an increased rate and severity of prostate cancer among Vietnam veterans. The University of California-Davis Cancer Center released findings that, when compared to other populations, those who served in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange, are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer, are four times as likely to develop more aggressive forms of the disease and are likely to be diagnosed more than 2 years younger. To Honor. To Cure. aims to increase awareness among Vietnam veterans through family members and mentors who may learn of the initiative or participate in the WWII veterans activities this year aboard Honor Flight.

Theragenics encourages men to become active in the care of their own health, go to the doctor regularly, and know their treatment options, including brachytherapy or seed therapy. Theragenics manufactures TheraSeed the most commonly used palladium-103 seed in brachytherapy, a leading, non-invasive treatment for prostate cancer.

Theragenics Corporation operates two business segments: its surgical products business and its brachytherapy seed business. Its surgical products business manufactures and distributes wound closure, vascular access, and specialty needle products.