Las Vegas Weekly

January 27, 2010 · 12:11 PM

Photo Gallery: Contestants join stars to help our military heroes

By Robin Leach

The contestants of the 2010 Miss America Pageant trade their high heels for combat boots.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

It was time for the 53 Miss America Pageant contestants to kick off their fashionista high heels and instead don Rocky combat boots to support the national awareness campaign When They Come Back, We Give Back. It’s a call to action for all Americans to support our military heroes who have faced the harsh realities of combat and then return home with a new set of challenges, including post-traumatic stress and physical injuries.

Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison was on hand when Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk, Miss Kentucky Mallory Ervin, Miss Massachusetts Amanda Kelly, Miss Delaware Heather Lehman, Miss Indiana Nicole Pollard and Miss Ohio Erica Gellhaus laced up for the photo session.

Music stars Ted Nugent, Randy Houser, Chuck Wicks, Joe Nichols, Gretchen Wilson and Heidi Newfield and Texas Gov. Rick Perry are among those participating in the When They Come Back, We Give Back campaign. Scott also photographed Ted when the rocker showed support for the military during his weekend concert in Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch.

For more information about the campaign and to see a list of the organizations supported by the campaign, go to WhenTheyComeBack.org.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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