Local military veterans support organizations are the beneficiaries of the display of hundreds of large American flags east of Salisbury between Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Thanks to individual and organization donors, the flags were on display through the work of the three Salisbury-area Rotary clubs (The Rotary Club of Salisbury, the Rotary Club of Wicomico County, and the Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club). The purpose of the 8th annual Flags for Heroes project was to raise money for groups serving military veterans. Each of the four recipient organizations has received $1,000.
Receiving Rotary-raised money to help with their veterans assistance programs are
Operation We Care, U.S. Kennels, Inc., Heroes Haven, Inc., and DAV Eastern Shore Chapter 34.
- Operation We Care provides care packages to members of the armed forces who are serving overseas.
- S. Kennels, Inc. is an organization that assists veterans battling Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, brain damage, and other combat related disabilities by adopting rescue dogs and training them to become service animals.
- Heroes Haven, Inc. transports injured veterans, police officers, emergency medical service personnel, and fire fighters to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for a hunting experience and Eastern Shore hospitality.
- The DAV Eastern Shore Chapter 34 mission is Building Better Lives for America’s Disabled Veterans and Their Families. A key activity for this group is transporting veterans to their medical appointments – including to the Perry Point VA medical center in Cecil County, Maryland.
Rotarians and their supporters have donated $4,000 to local veterans’ organizations through the Flag for Heroes display east of Salisbury this spring and summer. Shown, left to right, are Chris Hardy with dog in training, called “Tac” – U.S. Kennels. Inc.; Molly Hilligoss, Rotary Club of Wicomico County; Hank Wheatley – Heroes Haven, Inc.; Jeff Merritt – Operation We Care;
Commander Larry Jackson – DVA, Eastern Shore Chapter 34; Ernie Colburn, Rotary Club of Salisbury; and Bill Ferguson, Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club.
