FeedsWounded Heroes
Concert will aid soldiers
Wounded soldiers returning from combat overseas can find assistance in Westland—and a fundraiser Saturday night hopes to ensure it stays that way.
The Wounded Heroes concert, scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on Sept. 30, is designed to both honor and benefit military members returning to the Westland area after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Westland City Council member Robert Stottlemyer is one of the organizers of the event. About three years ago he became concerned when soldiers returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan began to face abuse from some citizens—a situation that reminded him of Vietnam, he said.
So, with the support of the Westland City Council and Westland Mayor Sandra Cicirelli, he decided to take action.
“We put a dance on two years ago,” said Stottlemyer. “We raised $48,000 for wounded veterans.”
Designed to be neither pro-war nor anti-war, the event instead focused on the aftereffects—the military men and women injured while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The decision to attempt another fundraiser for the same cause was simple, said Stottlemyer.
“They’re still coming home,” he said. “It is, in my opinion, probably one of your best chances to make a donation so we can help the wounded. It’s a way to help show the wounded that we care.”
The featured performer at the concert, which is offered with the support of the Westland City Council and Cicirelli, will be country music singer Lee Greenwood, who is perhaps best known for his renditions of patriotic songs such as God Bless the USA.
Although the U.S. Army band originally expected to perform had to cancel, the opening act that stepped in to replace them, Karen Newman and Steve Acho, may be familiar to residents for their past performances throughout the area.
Proceeds from the event will be split between the Wounded Warrior Project and the Wayne-based Veteran’s Haven, both registered charitable organizations. After the last fundraiser, proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project were used to help meet the immediate needs of injured veterans while the money provided to Veteran’s Haven provided relief on both a short-term and long term basis. The money raised by the concert is expected to be used for similar purposes.
As far Vince Berna, president and founder of Veteran’s Haven is concerned, any funds raised through the concert will aid them in their mission to offer veterans in tough situations assistance.
“Any kind of help they might need, we try to help them,” he said.
Although the group assists “thousands” of veterans each year, he added that most of them so far have been involved in past wars.
“We’re seeing more and more of them, as far as the Iraqi and Afghan vets go,” said Berma. “You’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg right now. As more and more of them come home, the need is going to increase.”
He added that fundraisers like this one, which raise money earmarked for those soldiers, help to ensure that the group will be able to assist the veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan both right now and in the future.
For more information or for tickets, contact the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn at (313) 943-2354 or visit www.vethaveninfo.org . Ticket prices for the show range from $33 to $50.
