Firefighters Raise Funds For Wounded Soldiers

The raised tens of thousands of dollars at a Wounded Warriors benefit held at the firehouse on Friday, Nov. 12.

The Wounded Warriors is a nonprofit organization that helps to raise money to purchase items for hurt service members and their families. Several firehouses in the area, including Floral Park, will take part in a convoy of trucks that will take the purchased items, such as socks, gloves and toys for preschoolers, down this year. There will be three convoys that go to the following sites: U.S. Army Post Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Ed Powers, one of the organizers of this year's Wounded Warriors benefit, described what it was like to reach these soldiers with these gifts. "It's so heartwarming and unbelieveable what you feel," he said. "These guys are kids and kids with kids."

The Wounded Warriors event in New Hyde Park had about 225 attendees who paid $30 to partake in burgers, hot dogs, beer, raffles and music from Rick and Ted, an acoustic classic rock band who played songs such as "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard."

Sandy Moon, whose husband is a firefighter who has taken the trip in the convoy, said that organizations like Wounded Warriors are important because, "these guys gave up a lot for their country."

Many local organizations and businesses, including the New Hyde Park Diner and the Walk Street Restaurant, as well as larger groups such as the National Football League and National Hockey League, donated either items to be raffled or auctioned off or food to the event.

The convoys of items will begin their trips on Dec. 1.