Successful Veteran’s Appreciation Weekend

This summer’s first annual Veteran’s Appreciation Weekend exceeded all expectations, raising almost $15,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The weekend’s festivities included a ‘Flags of Honor’ presentation, poker run, a live concert at Terry’s Tavern, and a golf outing at Green Valley Golf Club. Co-founder of the Veteran’s Appreciation Foundation, Wayne Clark, said the overwhelming amount of community support is what made the weekend such a big hit.

“Well we started out hoping we’d make four or five thousand dollars for the Wounded Warriors, and as things began to happen, and they began to roll, and more and more good things happened, and basically this community was so good and rallied around us because of the veteran’s, and people would hardly say no, so if you ask them about small or large donations, whatever they could do, this community really stepped up, so it was very successful,” Clark said.

The foundation organized the fundraiser in an effort to give back to our veterans, while also raising awareness for a good cause. After this year’s unexpected success, Clark said they hope to bring the event back next year, complete with even more activities.

“Next year, around June 10, 11, and 12 we want to try and do the same kind of things, have the poker run, incorporated with the ‘Flags of Honor’ at Zane’s Landing, we’re hoping to add some things, right now we’re in the planning stages of adding a car show, we’re going to enlarge our golf outing, we’re going to give people more opportunities, we’ll have more auctions going on,” Clark said.

Local businesses, Terry’s Tavern, Fink’s Harley Davidson and Green Valley Golf Club all sponsored the event.