Honor Flight Benefit

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Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

They are known as the Greatest Generation because they are quiet heroes, men and women who sacrificed their lives to defend our freedom in a foreign land during what was called the war to end all wars – World War II. Over 16 million men and women served during World War II, and today, an estimated 855,000 are still alive, but they’re getting old and fragile. The median age of WWII veterans is 95, and an average of 500 WWII veterans die every day. Sadly, the memorial to honor their service was not completed and dedicated until 2004, and many WWII have never seen the memorial to their service. On Thursday, August 6th, from 4-10 p.m. at Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce, volunteers from Southeast Florida Honor Flight, the Van Duzer Foundation, the City of Port St. Lucie, the Board of St. Lucie County Commissioners and the City of Fort Pierce are working together to make sure all St. Lucie County WWII veterans have an opportunity to make that trip of a lifetime. Southeast Florida Honor Flight provides a free flight with all the trappings for WWII veterans, along with a volunteer guardian (who pays for his or her own trip), meals, medical professionals, and a guided VIP tour to the WWII Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, August 6th, from 4 – 10 p.m., the counters at Big Apple will be staffed by local celebrities and volunteers who will take your order, make, and serve your pizza, with one hundred percent of the cost of your food and drinks going to help Southeast Florida Honor Flight collect funds for the October 2015 mission, which is currently in jeopardy because of the loss of funding. In addition to one hundred percent of your order and tip helping fund this special Honor Flight, your donation up to $10,000 will be matched by local dermatologist and philanthropist, Dr. Shamsher Singh. On hand that evening will be Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec, Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, several members of the St. Lucie County Commission, and a host of local luminaries and celebrities, so you never know who might serve your pizza that night. Or, you may choose to request a specific server in exchange for a substantial ‘gratuity’ to benefit Southeast Florida Honor Flight and the mission. There will be WWII veterans on hand to meet and chat with you, and it’s a perfect opportunity to thank these men and women for their heroic service and patriotism. In short, you can than them for your freedom.

Eight years after deciding to create a small, grassroots non-profit foundation to help individuals and families in St. Lucie County who were experiencing difficulties due to unforeseen tragedy or illness, the Van Duzer Foundation is still about helping one family or one individual with creativity, style, and caring. And while the Foundation may have taken a few side trips along the way, like starting Boy Scout Troop 772 to help give young men in the community a positive place to spend time, learn, and grow into positive and contributing members of the community, the Foundation has always been, at heart, a small, community organization which wants to have fun, share pizza, friendship, and good will with others, and provide an opportunity for others in the community to help out when one of its neighbors or friends is experiencing difficulty. To learn more about the Van Duzer Foundation or to donate to help fund the October mission for the Southeast Florida Honor Flight, please visit www.thevanduzerfoundation.org or call 772-528-3467.