Retired Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia announced that he will suspend his participation with the Vets for Freedom's National Heroes Tour in order to focus on his planned run for Congress in New York's 26th District as a conservative Republican.

The 26th congressional seat is currently held by Rep. Tom Reynolds (R), who announced earlier this month that he will not be seeking re-election.

Mr. Bellavia is the recipient of both the Silver and Bronze Stars, and the Conspicuous Service Cross, New York State 's highest award for combat valor. He also has been nominated for The Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in a fierce, urban, hand-to-hand fight in the battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Mr. Bellavia is the author of House to House: An Epic Memoir of War, which recounts his experiences on the ground in Iraq.

"The National Heroes Tour has been enormously rewarding," Mr. Bellavia said, "but it is necessary to take a sabbatical from it now to spend time with Republican Party officials and community leaders here at home. I am hopeful that my next service to the country will be as a congressman from the State of New York. Working towards that end will take every ounce of my strength, energy and focus during the next seven months."

Mr. Bellavia, who was born in Buffalo and raised in Waterport in Orleans County, lives in Batavia, NY with his wife and two sons. There he has founded a local Veteran's Coordination Center that focuses on the early treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other veteran-related issues and outreach programs. Bellavia is a co-founder of the non-partisan, non-profit Vets for Freedom organization.