In its fourth year, the 2015 Pull for Our Veterans® event benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project© had two big goals — doubling its fundraising to $50,000 and adding a Friday evening event honoring service, commitment, and shared sacrifice. The event, hosted by the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, accomplished both, raising $55,571 for its cause.
In addition to the 100 shooters who each paid $100 to participate in Saturday and Sunday flights — with all proceeds going directly to the Wounded Warrior Project — on Friday, organizers hosted five Tennessee wounded warriors, 14 law enforcement officers from five area departments, and four active-duty Army soldiers to shoot skeet and trap.
For the first time, corporate sponsors including National Strategic Protective Services, Consolidated Nuclear Services, and Clayton Bank and Trust contributed to the success of the event. Entry fees for the wounded warriors, law enforcement officers, and active-duty soldiers who shot on Friday night were paid for by the donations of Pull for Our Veterans supporters. Dinner was sponsored by Newk’s. Each participant received an official Pull for Our Veterans hat, t-shirt, shooting towel, and bag of items from sponsors. By all accounts, the participants quickly bonded in their shared ethos of service, commitment, and shared sacrifice and had a great time.
See Our Event Photo Gallery Below
The opening ceremony began with a prayer by Chaplain (CPT) Gary Nistler, Jr., Battalion chaplain 844th EN Bn. SSG Leslie Dix played Taps, followed by the national anthem performed by TSgt Reggie Coleman. Both are members of the Air National Guard Band of the South, 572nd Air National Guard Band. The U.S. flag was raised by a USMC Honor Guard of Sgt. Felipe Holden and Cpl. Jordon Dohner, both from the 4th CEB D Co.
Saturday evening’s dinner at Saint Mary’s School in Oak Ridge was provided by Olive Garden with Sal Gonzalez, Jr. from the Wounded Warrior Project as guest speaker. Sal talked of his experiences in Iraq, his recovery after he was critically injured by an IED, life as an amputee, and then his recovery and life as a musician in Nashville. Sal ended his talk by singing a song he wrote entitled “Heroes.” Next up were the completion of the silent auction and the live auction where many deals were to be had for over 40 items. Saturday night alone the group raised $11,400.
Plans are already underway for the fifth annual Pull for Our Veterans skeet and trap shoot on September 16-18, 2016 in Oak Ridge, plus a new sporting clays event May 7-8 in Sweetwater, Tennessee. You can sign up to participate as a shooter, volunteer, sponsor, fundraiser, or donor at www.pfov.org. You can also find 2015 shoot results there.
— Reported by Richard Stouder, President, Pull for Our Veterans
Click on an image below to open and scroll through the gallery of images from the 2015 Pull for Our Veterans shoot.
