thedrifter
10-28-07, 08:07 AM
Wounded warriorsget special attention
Sunday, October 28, 2007
By PATRICIA C. McCARTER
Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com
17 honorees to be recognized during Heroes Weekend
On Veterans Day weekend, Huntsville has the chance to make 17 wounded warriors feel like the heroes they are.
The Semper Fi Community Task Force of North Alabama is sponsoring its first-ever Heroes Weekend, and the honorees will be recognized at a 5K run, the U.S. Marine Corps Ball, and a Veterans Day parade.
"We're doing this to recognize the sacrifice, service and commitment of these Marines," said retired Marine Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti. "We are doing this in the spirit of Semper Fi, which means always faithful."
The 17 who will be honored by the Semper Fi Task Force - which organized earlier this year to do charitable works - will also be treated to a Huntsville Havoc hockey game and a Tennessee Titans football game.
The Heroes 5K Run is a partnership between the Huntsville Track Club and the Semper Fi Task Force. All runners are welcome, but military members are especially encouraged to come out and show support for their brethren.
"When I came home from Vietnam, there wasn't a whole lot of recognition for what we'd done," Libutti said. "I'm glad we're able to reach out to these young soldiers and let them know how much we appreciate their service."
The young veterans are part of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, created by the Corps this past spring to track and assist wounded Marines and sailors across the nation as well as help them make the transition from military to civilian life.
Col. Gregory Boil, the commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, will also be in town for the event.
Something else to help with that transition is a career fair on Nov. 13 sponsored by Still Serving Veterans. Several industries in the area will meet with the honorees to let them know about the opportunities here.
"These are very able-minded young people that the Tennessee Valley would be glad to have live and work here," Libutti said.
The honorees include two soldiers from Alabama, Camp Pendleton in San Diego and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
The retired general said the community has responded to the challenge the task force issued when it announced its Heroes Weekend idea several weeks ago. So far, $30,000 has been raised to transport, feed, house and entertain the honorees for the five days they will be here.
"I have to really thank Bob Marshall, who is the chairman of the task force, and Dave Bonwit, who is the action officer pulling together all of the details," he said.
Ellie
Sunday, October 28, 2007
By PATRICIA C. McCARTER
Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com
17 honorees to be recognized during Heroes Weekend
On Veterans Day weekend, Huntsville has the chance to make 17 wounded warriors feel like the heroes they are.
The Semper Fi Community Task Force of North Alabama is sponsoring its first-ever Heroes Weekend, and the honorees will be recognized at a 5K run, the U.S. Marine Corps Ball, and a Veterans Day parade.
"We're doing this to recognize the sacrifice, service and commitment of these Marines," said retired Marine Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti. "We are doing this in the spirit of Semper Fi, which means always faithful."
The 17 who will be honored by the Semper Fi Task Force - which organized earlier this year to do charitable works - will also be treated to a Huntsville Havoc hockey game and a Tennessee Titans football game.
The Heroes 5K Run is a partnership between the Huntsville Track Club and the Semper Fi Task Force. All runners are welcome, but military members are especially encouraged to come out and show support for their brethren.
"When I came home from Vietnam, there wasn't a whole lot of recognition for what we'd done," Libutti said. "I'm glad we're able to reach out to these young soldiers and let them know how much we appreciate their service."
The young veterans are part of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, created by the Corps this past spring to track and assist wounded Marines and sailors across the nation as well as help them make the transition from military to civilian life.
Col. Gregory Boil, the commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, will also be in town for the event.
Something else to help with that transition is a career fair on Nov. 13 sponsored by Still Serving Veterans. Several industries in the area will meet with the honorees to let them know about the opportunities here.
"These are very able-minded young people that the Tennessee Valley would be glad to have live and work here," Libutti said.
The honorees include two soldiers from Alabama, Camp Pendleton in San Diego and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
The retired general said the community has responded to the challenge the task force issued when it announced its Heroes Weekend idea several weeks ago. So far, $30,000 has been raised to transport, feed, house and entertain the honorees for the five days they will be here.
"I have to really thank Bob Marshall, who is the chairman of the task force, and Dave Bonwit, who is the action officer pulling together all of the details," he said.
Ellie