A big thank you to West Marine, in June West Marine dedicated a community day to Challenged America. A percentage of each sales made that day in the Pint Loma store benefited Challenged America.
Last week, Louis Holmes, manager of the Point Loma West Marine Store and his team, presented Challenged America with a $2700 check.
We also thank all of you who shopped the Point Loma West Marine store and made the donation possible.
A big thank you to our volunteers and all who participated in this action packed weekend.
The weekend started Friday afternoon with the commodores of the local yacht clubs competing on our Martin 16 boats specially designed for disabled sailors.
After 2 races, Navy Yacht Club took away the trophy
The Commodores’ Challenge was followed by dinner and a live and silent auction at the Bali Hai with two outstanding speaker. Steve Cushman who talked about his family ties to San Diego (5 generations) and Gunnery Sergent Mark K Daemon who talked about the work our Marines and military in general are doing in Afghanistan. He presented the American Flag flwoen over Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan to the winner of the auction. Hoorah
Saturday morning, the West Marine Challenged America Regatta started under the usual June gloom but the wind picked up and cleared the coastal layer to give us two action packed races
See the photos of the events in the gallery section. The files are low resolution, if you wish to have the high resolution files to print the photos, you can make a donation to Challenged America, one file $10, 4 files for $20 by check mailed to our office , or credit card using Paypal using our “Donate” button (Please specify the name of the gallery and the number of the photos you are ordering)
It will be a great honor and privilege for us to welcome Gy Sgt Mark D. Daemon Administration Chief 9th Communication Battalion , United States Marine Corps.
Gy Sgt Mark D. Daemon will be presenting the flag to the winner of the auction as well as give us background information on the flag and Camp Leatherneck above which it flew.
On behalf of Challenged America participants and volunteers, a big thank you for donating a US flag flown above Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan for our auction.
The flag is a tribute to the courage of the men and women of our armed forces, to their sacrifices, to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who came back wounded or disabled, some of whom we have or will see in the Challenged America program.
Following is a copy of the certificate.
United States Marine Corps
This certifies that the accompanying American Flag was flown over Camp Leatherneck in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan
On
1 January 2011
On this day, Gy Sgt Mark D. Daemon, Administration Chief
9th Communication Battalion dedicated this flag in honor of
Challenged America and *Auction winner*
The greatest gift that a person can give is time and efforts invested in the development and care of others. It enriched the one who gives and inspires those who receive. A person who finds values in their own life has dignity. A person who finds value in others is generous and serving. A person who finds value in both self and others and strives to communicate that through their actions and words is enlightened and brings peace where they travel. Thank you for your support of Challenged America and its work. We appreciate your commitment to making a positive difference.
Leatherneck – Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom