|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||
Cessna Employees
Rally And Raise Funds For Wounded Veterans Mission By |
||||
March 31, 2012 - Cessna Aircraft donated $25,000 on
behalf of Cessna employees to benefit the Veterans
Airlift Command at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In &
Expo in Lakeland, Florida.
The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) is a nonprofit
organization that provides free transportation for
injured veterans. Cessna has designated a Citation
Mustang, named "American Patriot," to fly VAC missions.
The donated funds were raised through Cessna employee
purchases of 2,152 commemorative Citation Mustang,
American Patriot limited edition t-shirts.
The VAC provides free medical or compassionate
transportation for wounded veterans and their families
through a national network of aircraft owners and
pilots. The organization's priority is to assist
veterans of Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom
(Afghanistan).
"Many of our veterans return from combat facing
devastating injuries and long-term rehabilitation. Many
times, they are recuperating hundreds of miles away from
family. Our goal at VAC is to be that bridge that brings
families together to help our veterans heal," said Walt
Fricke, VAC founder and air boss. "We are fortunate to
have Cessna join us in providing our wounded warriors
with this crucial service."
|
||||
The
fundraising campaign was conceived and executed by Cessna
employees. "We wanted to demonstrate the pride we felt in the
Citation Mustang product, and also wanted to figure out a way to
show support for the VAC and their mission," said Ashley Parks,
Cessna employee and project coordinator for the American Patriot
t-shirt fundraising campaign. Cessna employees ran the project
and raised $25,000 for the VAC.
The VAC
mission on March 31 will transport Sgt. Adam Kisielewski of
Frederick, Maryland to the Sun 'n Fun air show in Lakeland, FL.
Sgt. Kisielewski joined the Marine Delayed Entry program during
his junior year in high school, when he was only 17. He served
at Camp Pendleton and was selected for the prestigious "Yankee
White" squad, part of the U.S. Marine Corps Security Forces hand
selected to serve the President directly at Camp David.
Kisielewski rejoined the Infantry after his tour at Camp David, and was deployed to Iraq. During his time there, Kisielewski was severely injured by an IED explosion while on foot patrol. His wounds required a complete amputation of his left arm, and the amputation of his right leg just below the knee. His numerous wounds required extensive treatment at the National Naval Medical Center as well as at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and resulted in 14 months of recover. |
Sgt. Kisielewski was medically retired from the USMC and has since worked as a project officer for the U.S. Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at Fort Deterick, MD. Kisielewski's role was to enable government funded projects to develop relevant cutting edge technologies that would aid US service men and women injured in conflict areas. |