COW HARBOR WARRIORS DONATES $82,000 TO WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT™
NORTHPORT, NY
— March 20, 2013 —
Cow Harbor Warriors,
a nonprofit organization founded to honor and enable wounded U.S. Veterans
from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),
today announced that it has made an $82,047 contribution to Wounded Warrior
Project.
The financial donation represents the net
proceeds from last year’s inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend during which
22 wounded veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project and their families from
the Tri-State area were treated to three days of recreational events to
demonstrate the community’s respect and appreciation for their service and
sacrifice.
"The Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend was a wonderful
expression of gratitude from the citizens of Northport that made my fellow
wounded veterans and me feel honored, enabled and appreciated," said retired
Army Capt. James Van Thach, an infantry officer wounded during Operation
Iraqi Freedom. "It was an amazing experience for the warriors and their
families, and the funds raised will continue to help our heroes adjust to
life after war."
The inaugural Cow Harbor Warriors organization
raised money throughout 2012 to support the weekend’s recreational
activities that were completely free for the warriors and their families.
The net proceeds of the yearlong campaign were to benefit the Wounded
Warrior Project.
In addition to the monetary contribution, the
Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend fulfilled its mission to honor and enable 22
Wounded Warriors Project alumni plus 53 of their family members from the
tri-state area. Among the highlights of the weekend were:
·
The Warrior Welcome Parade that was attended by more than 1,000 people who
turned out to greet the heroes;
·
The 4-mile Warrior Run that brought 605 participants to Northport, more
than any of the 13 other runs and triathlons held on Long Island that
weekend;
·
Adaptive water sports for the Warriors, including canoeing, kayaking and
tubing;
·
a golf tournament at the local VA Medical Center Golf Course that drew 10
foursomes;
·
The “Fishing for Freedom” tournament featuring a coast guard escort for 8
fishing boats carrying wounded veterans; and the
·
Sunset Set Clambake, which was attended by 400 people.
“The response from the people and businesses
here in Northport and Huntington area was overwhelming and the gratitude
expressed by the veterans was heartfelt,” said Rocco Donnino, president of
Cow Harbor Warriors. “We are proud that we were able to use so many local
vendors and merchants to help support this great cause and we are thrilled
to have made such substantial financial contribution to Wounded Warrior
Project as result of our volunteer effort.”
The Wounded Warrior Project serves veterans and
service members who incurred physical or mental injuries, illnesses or
wounds related to their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The
program provides long-term support through a variety of complimentary
programs.
Donnino said that this year’s Cow Harbor
Warriors event would likely be carried out on a smaller scale this
September. However, he emphasized that the mission undertaken by Cow Harbor
Warriors remains incredibly urgent as some 34,000[1]
service members are scheduled to return from Afghanistan in 2013. To date,
more than 50,000[2]
military personnel have been wounded since the beginning of operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
About
Cow Harbor Warriors
Established in 2012, “Cow Harbor Warriors” is
501c3 not for profit organization. It is made up of a team of dedicated
Northport community members focused on "honoring and enabling" our Tri-State
Wounded Warriors from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) by raising funds and awareness and enlisting the community’s
support for the Wounded Warrior Project and Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend. The
Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend was created as a way to raise funds and awareness
for the WWP by inviting the Tri-State Wounded Warriors, their families and
our community members to a weekend of recreation, celebration and
appreciation. For more information, visit
http://www.cowharborwarriors.com.
###
[1]
President Barack Obama,
State of the Union Address, February 12, 2013
[2]
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, www.iava.org
9/11 ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND HONORS AND ENABLES TRI-STATE WOUNDED WARRIORS
Inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend event honors nation’s heroes.NORTHPORT, NY — September 5, 2012 — Cow Harbor Warriors, a nonprofit organization founded to honor and enable wounded U.S. Veterans, today announced that Wounded Warrior Project™ will be sending 22 alumni and their families in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to a three-day weekend event meant to honor, empower and thank our service men and women. The inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend event is scheduled to take place September 7-9, 2012 in and around Northport, New York. A variety of activities are scheduled, including:
“As more of our Tri State service men and women come home and adjust to their “new normal” civilian life with visible and invisible injuries, events like the Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend benefit wounded vets more than people realize,” said, James O’Leary Wounded Warrior Project alum. “We don’t want to sit on the sidelines; we want to get back in the game. And when communities participate in these activities, it shows that our service meant something and that our sacrifice was appreciated. The Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend definitely gives us something to look forward to and encourages all WWP alumni to advance.”
Cow Harbor Warriors was founded in early 2012 with a mission to honor and enable U.S. Veterans who have been wounded in action during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The organization, a registered 501(c)(3), is working in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior Project by advancing its not-for-profit mission to honor and empower those who have suffered combat-related injuries with direct programs that meet the unique needs of our warriors.
As of today more than 48,000 American service men and women have been physically injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In partnering with the Wounded warrior Projects, Cow Harbor Warriors has encouraged their community to help to create an annual weekend of recreation, celebration and appreciation in order to honor and enable the Tri-State Wounded Warriors
September 11th was the spark for many who joined the service and as we approach the 11th anniversary of that tragic day, it felt meaningless, to simply say thank you to individual men and women who put their life on the line every single day said Rocco Donnino, president, Cow Harbor Warriors. “This is an opportunity for our community to thank, serve and enable our Wounded Warriors through a weekend of recreational activities and family events, dedicated to those who have given so much of themselves for our freedom.”
Mayor George Doll of the Village of Northport and other village officials are working with Cow Harbor Warriors to prepare for the inaugural weekend event and called on citizens to “renew our commitment to improving the quality of life for all our wounded veterans.”
Mayor Doll suggested that one way citizens and companies from the region might support Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend is by making plans to donate, sponsor and/or participate in the event, and he thanked the dozens of such companies who have already done so: www.cowharborwarriors.com/oursponsors.html.
All tax-deductible donations received will directly benefit participating warriors and the Wounded Warrior Project.
For more information about the weekend event and how to participate, please visit www.cowharborwarriors.com.
About Cow Harbor Warriors
Cow Harbor Warriors is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that works in conjunction with Wounded Warrior Project™ by advancing its not-for-profit mission to honor and empower those who have suffered combat-related injuries with direct programs that meet the unique needs of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom wounded warriors. Our mission is to honor and enable U.S. Veterans located in the Tri-State area around New York, New Jersey and Connecticut during the Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend scheduled to take place September 7-9, 2012 in Northport, New York. All tax-deductible donations received will directly benefit participating warriors of the Wounded Warrior Project. For more information, visit http://www.cowharborwarriors.com.
About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Northport Proclaims July 3rd "Wounded Warrior Day"
MAYOR DOLL PROCLAIMS JULY 3rd
“WOUNDED WARRIOR DAY”
Urges citizens to support
wounded veterans; Discusses Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend activities
NORTHPORT, NY
— July 2, 2012 —
Mayor George Doll of the Village of Northport, New York, today proclaimed
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 “Wounded Warrior Day” in the village and called on
citizens to to “renew our commitment to improving the quality
of life for all our wounded veterans, all year long.”
Mayor Doll said that July 3, the day before
Independence Day was an appropriate time to honor injured men and women in
uniform because “Before there could be independence, there had to be people
willing to suffer and die to earn it.”
“They have given up so much for us. It's only
fitting that we give back something to them,” Doll said. “A single day isn’t
enough to adequately thank them for their service, but it is an effective
way to remind everyone of freedom’s real, human costs.”
Doll said that he and other village officials
are working with
Cow Harbor Warriors, a nonprofit
organization founded to honor and enable wounded U.S. veterans, to prepare
for the inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend. The event is scheduled for
September 7-9, 2012 in and around the surrounding area of Northport.
One local veteran commended the
village’s efforts and encouraged residents and businesses alike to
participate in the September festivities.
“Events like the Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend
benefit wounded vets more than people realize,” said, James O’Leary Wounded
Warrior Project alum. “We don’t want to sit on the sidelines; we want
to get back in the game. And when communities participate in these
activities, it shows that our service meant something and that our sacrifice
was appreciated. The Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend definitely gives us
something to look forward to and encourages all WWP alumni to advance.”
Mayor Doll suggested that one way citizens and
companies from in the region might commemorate Wounded Warrior Day is by
making plans to sponsor and/or participate in the Cow Harbor Weekend.
“Over 40,000 troops have been physically
wounded during the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said
Becky Melvin, PR Manager for the Wounded Warrior Project. “Hundreds of
thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war,
including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and
traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether through recreational retreats,
combat stress programs or career and education opportunities, these services
aim to ease the burdens of the wounded and their families, aid in the
recovery process and smooth their transition back into civilian life.”
Town of Huntington Supports Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend
Honoring Our Wounded Warriors
Huntington supports weekend
tribute to hero veterans
“It is my sincere honor to announce
today that the Town of Huntington will provide all necessary resources to
support the Cow Harbor Warriors and help fulfill its mission to honor the
heroes of the Wounded Warrior Project,” said Councilman Mark Cuthbertson,
sponsor of the Town Board resolution authorizing the use of the Town’s Crab
Meadow Beach for the clambake and four-mile run. “This three-day event is a
fitting tribute to honor, empower and thank our service men and women.”
Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, whose
daughter Julie serves as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, said this year’s
founding of the Cow Harbor Warriors is another testament to the generosity
and caring of the Huntington community. “The women and men who put their
lives on the line to protect our country’s freedom deserve our support
during active duty and when they return home from overseas,” Supervisor
Petrone said. “We welcome these heroes to our community with open arms and
this weekend is a small token of our heartfelt thanks for their courage and
service.”
The inaugural Cow Harbor Warrior
Weekend event is scheduled to take place Friday, September 7 through Sunday
September 9 in and around the surrounding area of Northport. Those
participating in the event will be feted in a welcoming parade down Main
Street, Northport Village, on Friday evening. Following remarks from local
dignitaries, the Wounded Warriors and their families will enjoy a dinner at
the Northport Volunteer Fire Department.
“When men and women join the U.S. military and
serve in our Armed Forces, they vow to uphold our Constitution, defend the
values it represents and protect all who live under its freedoms,” said
Rocco Donnino, president, Cow Harbor Warriors. “This is an opportunity
for our community to thank, serve and enable our Wounded Warriors through a
weekend of recreational activities and family events, dedicated to those who
have given so much of themselves for our freedom.”
“Huntington has a long history of supporting those who serve our country
bravely and honorably,” Councilwoman Susan Berland said. “I wholeheartedly
support Cow Harbor Warriors’ efforts and ask Huntingtonians to join them in
helping to make this weekend a success.”
Events scheduled for Saturday, September 8
include a four-mile Warrior Run starting at Crab Meadow Beach; a CHW golf tournament at the Veterans Administration Golf Course
co-hosted by the Northport American Legion Post #694; a Fishing For Freedom
tournament; and adaptive water sports and family beach activities at Steers
Beach in Northport.
Following the day’s events, participants will
enjoy a barbecue lunch hosted by members of the Northport Rotary Club. On
Saturday evening, the Cow Harbor Warriors will host a gala sunset clam bake
celebration at Crab Meadow Beach.
Cow Harbor Warriors was founded in early 2012
with a mission to honor and enable U.S. Veterans who have been wounded in
action during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan or Operation Iraqi
Freedom. The organization, a registered 501(c)(3), is working in
conjunction with the Wounded Warrior Project by advancing its not-for-profit
mission to honor and empower those who have suffered combat-related injuries
with direct programs that meet the unique needs of our warriors.
“Events like the Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend
benefit wounded vets more than people realize,” said James O’Leary, a
Warrior Project alumni. “We don’t want to sit on the sidelines; we
want to get back in the game. And when communities participate in
these activities, it shows that our service meant something and that our
sacrifice was appreciated. The Cow Harbor Warrior Weekend definitely
gives us something to look forward to and encourages all WWP alumni to
advance.”
“Over the past two years, Huntington has rallied to help an individual
wounded warrior from Huntington, Lt. James Byler,” said Councilman Mark
Mayoka. “This is an opportunity to express thanks and support for all those
who have been wounded in battle.”
Councilman Eugene Cook said, “I encourage everyone to attend the welcoming
parade and the weekend festivities to stand alongside our wounded warriors
and their families to thank them for the sacrifices that they have made to
protect our liberties and freedoms that this great nation offers.
These men and women are the true leaders in our Town and we should be
honored that they call Huntington home. “
Mr. Donnino said the group is seeking donations
and sponsorships for the various events. The group is also selling lawn
signs for $20 and T-shirts for $15. For complete details and more
information about the weekend event and how to participate, visit
www.cowharborwarriors.com.
###
Public Information Officer
Town of Huntington
100 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743
631-351-3349 (office)
631-252-8604 (cell)