MORNINGSIDE, Md. - Air National Guard members have raised more than $5,000 thanks to a recent "Hidden Heroes" benefit. The money is for military families who are attempting to stay as close as possible to military medical facilities where their wounded loved ones are recuperating.
Air National Guard members, their families, veterans and others from the Washington area gathered at the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 9619 to honor and to raise donations for hospitalized military members and their families.
"This is as good as it was last year, if not better," said Master Sgt. Cindy Seymour, a retention manager from the National Guard Bureau in Arlington. Seymour and nearly 25 other volunteers solicited donations, transported Soldiers and families and even played in a rock band during a final benefit celebration. It was the fourth Hidden Heroes event, which began in 2004.
The event had generated donations totaling $5,100 as of Aug. 17, Seymour said.
"A few years ago we thought to hold something like this. We had a band and some volunteers, and we also had a local Enlisted Association of the National Guard chapter to sponsor it," said Seymour.
Now, the Airmen have raised thousands of dollars for the Fisher House Foundation which provides temporary housing near military hospitals so families can stay close to their wounded loved ones.
"Family support is the best medicine," Seymour said, "and we collect other donations including clothing and DVDs."
"It's really nice, it's helpful and it gets [the wounded] out of their rooms," said Pfc. Brian Morningstar, who deployed to Iraq in 2006 with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division. Morningstar was driven to the fundraiser from Walter Reed by the Air Guard volunteers. The scars on his head, arm and legs told of the severe wounds he received in a battle outside of Baghdad. He has been recovering at Walter Reed since December.
"My situation is not as bad as others who may need this kind of exposure and need to get out of their rooms and socialize," Morningstar added.
The event also treated the wounded and families to free food and drinks.
Morningstar said his family came to see him at Walter Reed when he was wounded.
The Fisher House Foundation has at least one housing facility near every major military medical center, it was explained. It assists families in need and provides them with the comforts of home. Annually, the Fisher House program says it serves more than 8,500 families and has made more than two million days of lodging available to family members since the program originated in 1990. Seymour said her group hopes to raise a few thousand dollars for the foundation. "We also want the troops to know that we are tremendously grateful," she said. "It's to show our appreciation to our "˜hidden heroes,' that's what this whole thing is for."