Another successful Halos and Heroes!

We had another great success with our Third Annual Halos and Heroes Event last October 3rd, 2009!
Major General Robert Dees, USA, (Ret.) gave a riveting talk on who the wounded warrior is. He was followed by a moving speech given by Wounded Warrior SGT Eric Edmundson.

Eric Edmundson is one of 36,400 Americans wounded in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) to date, including over 16,900 wounded warriors who were not able to return to duty.

This does not include the former combat troops who possibly suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or the adversely affected family members of these wounded veterans.

Eric served eight years of active army duty as an E5 Sergeant. He was injured in Iraq in October 2005 when an IED detonated under the Stryker vehicle he was driving. Eric suffered blast-shrapnel injuries, traumatic brain injury, a fractured right leg, a ruptured spleen and two fractured vertebrae. He also suffered a heart attack while receiving emergency medical treatment in Iraq.

Following hospitalization and seven months at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), Eric returned home to his wife and daughter (now five years old). He is unable to speak and can ambulate only short distances with assistance. Eric's father, Ed Edmondson, is his primary caregiver and accompanies Eric on his flights for rehabilitation and specialized treatments.

Eric's main message is how proud he was to have served his country and how grateful he is to his family for their care and support. He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV) for providing multiple flights for him and his family when he needed medical and rehabilitation services. He emphasized the problems and expense of travel that most wounded warriors and their family’s experience, and how ACV eliminates that stress and financial burden.

Highlights from Halos and Heroes 2009 included a terrific “Warbird” air demonstration; honors ceremony that included praise for ten wounded warriors whom our Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic pilots flew in from Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and fabulous food from Bubba’s Deli & Restaurant at Farmers Market and Trader Joe’s. The evening closed with the great music of Marty Raybon and Shenandoah and their country western historic reunion The hangar proved to be a great dance venue!

Our main objective this year was to continue to bring awareness to our program so it can benefit more of our wounded warriors and their families.

Thank you to all that sponsored, attended Halos and Heroes and supported ACV. Your continued support will assure that all future wounded will be able to access medical specialized treatment. ACV will continue make sure our wounded and their families access the critically needed medical, counseling and rehabilitation services available.

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