July 22nd, 2011, By Dana Haugh
This past Wednesday July 20, president of iOptimize Realty.com™, Don Catalano joined forces with fellow Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) members, Dave Windmiller and Joe Howley to help 18 Wounded Warriors fly from Walter Reed to Long Island. These true heroes were honored and welcomed by the New York State Police and the Republic Airport Fire and Rescue team when they touched down at Atlantic Aviation. The veterans flew up to Long Island to ride in the Wounded Warrior Project’s “Soldier Ride,” which is taking place today, July 22 and tomorrow July 23. The events have already raised over $300,000 and brought hundreds of supporters together with wounded warriors to help encourage and restore the physical and emotional well-being of these true heroes, while honoring the men and woman in our military.
Today’s bike ride, which stretches an incredible 22 miles in this searing 100 degree heat, crosses over the Robert Moses Causeway. Tomorrow’s ride will be set in the Hamptons, offering both a 30-mile and 60-mile ride that will begin in Amagansett. Tomorrow’s ride is in honor of a fallen hero Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter who was killed in Iraq at the age of 19. Jordan was a Long Island native, born in Southampton and this ride is dedicated to his bravery and heroic actions in combat.
The Wounded Warrior Project, which originally began as a program that provided comfort items to wounded service members, has grown into an organization committed to honoring and empowering wounded warriors. The non-profit organization’s goals include “raising awareness and enlisting the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, helping injured service members aid and assist each other and providing unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of the injured service members.” A truly amazing organization, the Wounded Warrior Project offers dozens of services from counseling to retreats to support, all in attempt to make sure our fallen and injured heroes are not forgotten.
Following the end of Saturday’s race, Don and his fellow pilots will return the wounded warriors back to the Walter Reed Medical Center. At noontime on Sunday July 24, a group of men and women will gather on Atlantic Aviation at the Republic Airport on Long Island to recognize and salute these truly inspiring veterans and send them off with the gratitude they each very much merit.
A special thanks to Republic Airports, Republic’s Farmingdale Tower, NYS Police force, Fire and Rescue and Atlantic Aviation.
For more information on the flight, please contact Dana Haugh at danah@crcsavesmoney.com or call 631-396-0000 ext. 28
For information on the Wounded Warriors Project, check out their website.
