5th Annual Homes For Our Troops Benefit Festival

Celebrate our armed forces and honor their sacrifices at The 5th Annual Homes For Our Troops Benefit Festival, January 27 – 29, to raise funds to build specially-adapted homes for severely combat wounded veterans

The three-day festival at George Bush Park, 16500 Westheimer Pkwy, combines live music, BBQ cook-off, military exhibits, carnival, Vietnam battle reenactment, vendors, car show, auctions, powered parachute demo, helicopter rides, moving presentations with honored Vets., sporting clays tournament and much more.

Every day, the men and women of our Armed Forces put their lives on the line protecting our freedom and independence. Some of those lives are lost, and some are profoundly and forever altered, suffering injuries so severe that they must rely on others for care, losing much of their independence. These severely injured veterans have a desperate need for specially adapted homes that will help restore the independence they have lost. For what they have sacrificed to protect our homes, we can, and should, build them their homes. Homes for Our Troops can "give back" freedom and independence to them through a gift of a specially adapted home.

Live Music: For the first time this year, Homes For Our Troops will include a major concert stage. Full lineup TBA.

Battle Reenactment: A heart-pounding Vietnam battle reenactment will be staged with an enemy ambush from the tree-line and troops flown in and wounded evacuation using a vintage Huey helicopter. Re-enactors from other eras will bring American and Texan history alive.

Sporting Clays Tournament: Teams in multiple flights compete at different stations with varying challenges during the Sporting Clays Tournament hosted by American Shooting Centers. This year for the first time in Texas, the shoot will include a Gnat Shoot, the wildly popular event that grew out of the UK where the target is a flying, radio-controlled model aircraft, constructed of Kevlar and titanium and fitted with pyrotechnic charges that explode to show a hit. More about Gnat shooting at: www.gnatusa.com.

Car Show: Car enthusiasts will see an amazing array of vehicles, from vintage classics to the latest in sleek power and styling from Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, Lamborghini and more, with entries from prestigious car clubs from around the state.

Air Show: The West Houston Squadron of the world renowned Commemorative Air Force will conduct flyovers to thrill the crowd with vintage warbirds.

Powered Parachute Flights: Powered parachutes provide exciting ultra-light recreational flight. Ram-air airfoil type parachutes take off from the ground and maneuver with a small prop engine.

Historic Figures: Reenactors will portray some of the most popular figures in our proud military history such as General Patton, mingling with patrons and providing historic education for children.

Helicopter Rides and Military Display: Patrons can survey the entire event from helicopter rides in a vintage Huey, and WWII and Korean War era military vehicles, camps and gear will be on display.

Carnival: A major traveling carnival, with generations of history, and a staple of family-friendly festivals and events will entertain children of all ages with rides and midway games.

Honor Ceremonies: Honored P.O.W.s, severely combat wounded and other veterans will speak on the needs of returning disabled veterans and the difference Homes For Our Troops makes for them, entering the event grounds in an honor convoy by the Rolling Thunder motorcycle club. On Friday evening, irreparably damaged flags are retired in a moving Flag Retirement Ceremony, consigning them with proper form and honors to a bonfire.

Cook Teams: Twenty-five cook teams will offer samplings of some of the best cooking in Texas on Friday and Saturday morning until 3:00 PM.

Food Vendors: A host of Food Vendors offering a wide variety of specialty foods and festival favorites will be serving Friday and Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.

Craft and Specialty Vendors: Everything from fine guns to gun repair and shooting supplies to crafts and art honoring our troops will be available.

Auctions: Patrons can help raise funds for Homes For Our Troops and come away with valuable items from art to valuable guns, from unique memorabilia to prestigious hunting trips.

Other Events: Other attractions include exhibition shooting, war dog demonstrations, historic military weapons demonstrations from the 6TH Cavalry, and much more.

Homes for Our Troops, is a national non-profit whose mission is to build specially adapted homes for service members who have been severely wounded in combat operations since September 11, 2001. All specially adapted homes are built at NO COST to the veteran. HFOT relies completely on private donations, and receives no government funding whatsoever. All monies raised allows the vets the chance to live their lives, as independently as possible, in their own homes.

Contacts:

Homes For Our Troops Charity and Sporting Clays Tournament: Carla Patton, 713.498.5046, patton@energycorporationofamerica.com

Festival Information and Sponsors:  Bob Fuldauer, 281.802.2656, trendsofhouston@yahoo.com

Entertainment and Auction Items: Jeanie McHugh, 713.823.3665, jeaniemchugh@yahoo.com

Vendors:  Michael R. Martin, 281.802.2776, trendsofhouston@yahoo.com

Veteran and POW Recipient and Honoree Information:  Nancy Burrus, nanafreedom@yahoo.com

2012 Veteran Recipient Bios

These American heroes had their lives forever altered twice: first by war and severe injury, and second by the relief from what would otherwise be greater isolation and hardship provided by getting their own specially built home from Homes For Our Troops. These vets will explain what a vital difference their home has made to them and their families and why it is critical to provide for their wounded comrades. Homes For Our Troops can not contract with a Vet to provide a home until funding is in place, so your contributions through this event are essential to providing for more deserving Vets. The V.A. estimates there are 1,000 to 1,500 severely injured and wounded Vets who have already been released from the hospital and are struggling to find a place. This is a low estimate and many more have yet to be released and, sadly, there will be more wounded as operations continue.