Invitation to Old Mission Rotary Wounded Warrier Dinners

Posted by Matt Risi on Jul 15, 2016
 
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Chris Van Etten was featured on the Hoda and Kathie Lee show recently. Chris is part of Jockey’s new “Show ‘em What’s Underneath” Campaign.
 
Old Mission Rotary has been hosting Wounded Warrior Dinners on the last Thursday of every month for the past five years at the San Diego Naval Medical Center.  During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we met many seriously wounded Marines and Sailors. Old Mission has maintained contact with Wounded Warriors who are out of the service but living locally. Two of our Wounded Warriors regularly attend Old Mission Rotary events and are part of our Rotary family.
 
Isaac Blount lost both legs, part of his left hand and his left eye to an IED ambush.  Isaac was featured on 60 Minutes when he climbed the highest mountain in Australia, Mount Kosciuszco, with the Heroes Project.
 
Chris Van Etten lost his legs in an IED attack.  Today, he is a model for the Jockey "Show 'em What's Underneath" campaign and has been featured in People Magazine and on television.
 
Sadly, one of our wounded warriors, Artem Luzukin, could not adjust to post war life and took his own life.
 
Special thanks to Old Mission Rotarian Hugh Kramer and his dedicated team who serves and cleans up the dinners month after month! 
 
Local restaurants such as The French Gourmet, Phil's BBQ, Old Town Mexican Cafe, Boll Weevil Kearny Mesa and Kabobge Lebanese Grill often supply food but from time to time volunteers need to buy and prepare the meals. Typically, 125 Marines and Sailors attend.
 
Any Rotarians wanting to participate as a club or as an individual can contact Hugh Kramer at hfkramer@gmail.com. The next old Mission Rotary Wounded Warrior Dinner will take place on Tuesday July 26th from 4:30pm-6:30pm.   Due to security at the Naval Medical Center, arrangements need to be made in advance for a facility pass.