STORY FROM – “The Fort Bliss MONITOR”
Sgt. Edward A. Garibay,16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment:
The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Fort Bliss Chapter, sells hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks, snacks and raffle tickets during a barbecue fundraiser event Aug. 25 at the Fort Bliss Commissary in support of Wish For Our Heroes, an organization that grants wishes for servicemembers in need. SAMC is an elite group of noncommissioned officers dedicated to improving the Army and the community around them. It is a very select and prestigious club, and their members go through a rigorous candidacy process. Photo by Sgt. Edward A. Garibay, 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Fort Bliss Chapter, sparked the grill Aug. 25 outside the Fort Bliss Commissary to raise funds in support of Wish For Our Heroes, an organization that strives to relieve the burdens of daily military life by granting wishes for things as simple as a ticket to a sporting event or something as critical as financial support for a medical emergency in the family.By holding a “Grills Gone Wild” barbecue fundraiser, SAMC raised more than $850 that will not only support Wish For Our Heroes but will help local Fort Bliss Soldiers and their families in time of need.
“First, we wanted to show Soldiers in need that [noncommissioned officers] do care; second, we wanted to bring awareness to Wish For Our Heroes and let people know they can use it if they need help,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Rives, an SAMC member and organizer of the event.
Wish For Our Heroes strives to provide assistance not covered by other military charities. Surprisingly, not many Fort Bliss servicemembers utilize it, said Rives, a member of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
In fact, the first time the charity organization was called upon was by the SAMC president, 1st Sgt. Albert Fletcher III.
When a Soldier of his was caught in a terrible family emergency and all other outlets of assistance were closed, Fletcher called upon Wish For Our Heroes. Two hours later his wish was granted. The Soldier received seven plane tickets and $1,000 to help him in h is time of crisis.
“When they told me what they gave the Soldier, I was amazed,” said Fletcher, a member of 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. “To be a not-for-profit organization and give the way they do, it’s just amazing.”
Fletcher said supporting Wish For Our Heroes was an obvious choice, especially because its goals align so closely to those of SAMC.
“The way I see it, the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is about helping the community and helping Soldiers,” said Rives. “Wish For Our Heroes is about the same exact thing. They just want to help Soldiers. They don’t give grants; they don’t give loans; they give wishes.”
This fundraiser was just the beginning. SAMC will continue to work hand-in-hand with Wish For Our Heroes to improve the community and the lives of Soldiers, said Fletcher.
The next “Grills Gone Wild” fundraiser for Wish For Our Heroes will be in November at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
For more information about SAMC or to recommend a volunteer event, visit www.Facebook.com/BlissSAMC.
For more information about Wish For Our Heroes, visit www.wishforourheroes.org.
