Post by Anthony Thomas on Apr 24, 2016 11:53:45 GMT -5
May 7, 2016 - Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day
The purpose of this event is to help educate our local Military personnel and their families, as well as our local civilian community members, in order to raise awareness about veteran suicide, while providing a great day of events, with special guests and some country music.
Community Supporting AHERO - Maysville 5k
William H. Frost Park
8th Street
Maysville, NC.
Race participants are asked to arrive between 8:00am and 8:45am for registration. Registration will occur in the parking lot of the Maysville United Methodist Church, located adjacent to the park.
Maysville United Methodist Church
804 Foy Avenue
Maysville, NC 28555
At 9:00am we will kick off the 5k with opening remarks from the Founder and CEO of AHERO, Maj. Lee Stuckey. Upon completion of the race by participants, an awards ceremony will take place to award race winners. Special Guests Dr. Carrie Elk and Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Dave Glassman will speak to the participants, followed by final remarks by Major Stuckey.
AHERO Suicide Awareness & Prevention Event
Jones County Civic Center
832 North Carolina Hwy 58
Trenton, NC 28585
5:00pm - 6:00pm: Kickoff of Evening Events
Opening Remarks by AHERO Founder and CEO, Maj. Lee Stuckey
Country Music Performance by Kevin Adair
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Dr. Carrie Elk will discuss suicide prevention and awareness
Country Music Performance by Jeff Widenhofer
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Impactful Speakers
Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Dave Glassman will speak about past battles with suicide, losing Marines/Sailors to suicide and the impact it made
Country Music Performance by Coffey Anderson
At 8:00pm, Maj. Stuckey will conclude the event with closing remarks.
Please see the attached pages for information regarding our Organization, Guest Speakers and Musical Performers.
What is AHERO?
AHERO (America's Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors), is an organization that connects veterans with other veterans and patriotic members of local communities; and brings these parties together by organizing outdoor and social activities.
The primary purpose of these activities is to boost morale, introduce veterans to resources/programs available to them, encourage constructive communication and engagement, and develop an informal support network of veterans across the country, in an effort to heal the physical and psychological wounds of war.
AHERO was organized and is operated by Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Marine Corps and Army veterans, who understand the challenges that today's war veterans face in reengaging the civilian world.
AHERO was conceived and founded by Major Lee Stuckey, U.S. Marine Corps (Active Duty). Major Stuckey has served three combat tours in Iraq, and is currently at Camp Lejeune, NC. Maj. Stuckey has been awarded the Purple Heart (for wounds received in Iraq), Bronze Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a "V" device for Actions of Valor during combat, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and other military ribbons/medals for outstanding service.
The biggest need that AHERO currently has is spreading the word about our organization and the staggering suicide statistics that currently plague our veterans, people to setup future fundraising events to raise awareness as well as money, and supporters willing to donate monthly so we can continue to stop veterans from taking their own lives. Every dollar raised by AHERO goes directly to veterans in support of this mission. The directors and staff of AHERO are all volunteers and don't receive any monetary compensation in any form.
Currently, approximately 29 veterans commit suicide each and every day. These numbers are horrific if you consider that we sadly lost 6,700 veterans to com at related death in both Afghanistan and Iraq; and we lose over 10,000 a year to suicide. That equates to over 100,000 suicides in the last decade, compared to 6,700 killed in combat. We need assistance from our local communities to help heal our veterans and stop them from taking their own lives. They've sacrificed so much for us, so now it's our turn to reach out and help them to cope and heal.
Lee Stuckey
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
AHERO Founder and CEO
Major Stuckey is from Montgomery, Alabama. He received his early education from Trinity Presbyterian School, and transferred to Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama where he graduated high school in 1998. He enrolled in Auburn University in 1998 and spent a year in college before enlisting in the Marine Corps as a Machine Gunner. He graduated Parris Island as an Honor Graduate and received the rank of Lance Corporal. He graduated at the top of his class at both the School of Infantry and Machine Gunner School in December of 1999. Upon completion, he returned to Lima Company 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines in Montgomery, AL in order to finish college to pursue a Commission. Lee deployed to Iraq with Lima Company, 3/23, and was attached to an infantry line platoon executing patrols and raids. During his time in Iraq, he learned to communicate in Arabic , worked with the only Arabic interpreter assigned to the company, , and acted as an interpreter and translator for his platoon. Upon Lee’s arrival to the States, he returned to Auburn in 2004 to finish school, and was reassigned as an Operations Chief to the 4th FSSG in Marietta, GA. While a Sergeant in Marietta, he served as the Battalion Operations Chief as well as a Platoon Commander for Headquarters Platoon. Sergeant Stuckey ran the Battalion Armory, taught small arms and crew serve weapons systems classes, and instructed Martial Arts to Headquarters Battalion, 4th FSSG. Along with his deployment to Iraq, he was also involved in Operation Cornerstone in Albania and Cobra Gold in Korea working with different militaries, teaching weapons classes and running patrols.
He graduated from Auburn University in 2004, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Logistics. He attended the Officer Candidates School in the winter of 2005 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Following graduation in January 2006, he attended the Logistics Officer’s Course before joining 2d Marine Division as the Platoon Commander and Executive Officer for Truck Company. Truck Company deployed in January 2007 to February 2008 and conducted Third Country National (TCN) escort missions as well as numerous tactical convoys throughout central Iraq. Upon returning from his second deployment, Lee began teaching Mixed Martial Arts to Marines with PTSD from the Wounded Warriors Battalion to assist them in dealing with their stress. Through this
outreach he realized that this was a way to reach out to individual Marines and identify possible suicidal issues. He continued this program in order to give the Marines a positive outlet through martial arts as opposed to alcohol or substance abuse.
During his third deployment, he was certified as a Level 3 Army Combatives Instructor, where he taught and certified over 200 Soldiers in Modern Army Combatives. He served for 40 months on Recruiting duty until September of 2012 with the Recruiting Station in Montgomery, AL. He functioned as the Operations Office and then as the Executive Officer.
In 2012, while in the Montgomery area, he started America’s Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors (A HERO). A HERO brings in Wounded Veterans from all over the United States to mentor and assist with the rehabilitation of those who have sacrificed so much for our Country in an effort to assist with suicide prevention. He still serves as the Chief Executive Officer for A HERO and to date; the nonprofit has supported over 450 Veterans in just 4 years.
He attended the Army Logistics University Captain’s Career Course where he graduated March 15, 2013. While attending this course he trained over 500 Soldiers in Modern Army Combatives, established a Toys-for-Tots Drive, and conducted numerous suicide awareness speeches. He served as the Commanding Officer for Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group from May 2013-February 2014, as well as serving as the Director of the Support Center for Black Sea Rotation Force (BSRF) 14.3 in Romania, where he managed all of the logistics for 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines.
Major Stuckey’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart for wounds received in OIF 06-08, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a "V” for Valor, Combat Action Ribbon, and an Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Carrie A. Elk, PhD, LMHC, CTE
B.S. Townson State University 1991, Education & Psychology
M.Ed. Pennsylvania State University 1994, Counselor Education-Chemical Dependency
Ph.D. Florida State University 1999, Human Science-Family Relationships
Dr. Carrie Elk has been in the mental health field for more than 20years. She has been involved in many local, national, and international activities supporting military and veterans. She is a licensed mental health professional and Certified Trauma Expert, providing education, treatment, and clinical research consultation on psychological trauma and other mental health and psychological performance topics to service members, veterans, military families, and other veteran/military organizations, as well as civilian organizations that work with military populations.
Dr. Elk served as a Clinical Services Supervisor for Military One Source until 2010 and continued to do outreach for the organization beyond that time. Dr. Elk was then recruited for a two-year contract (2010-2012) as a visiting faculty member at USF to serve as co-investigator on the initial DOD funded studies of treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Upon completing her assignment there, she created a non profit organization to continue her work. Dr. Elk is founder & executive director of Elk Institute for Psychological Health & Performance, a non-profit organization that provides education and treatment at no cost to the individual veteran/service member.
Dr. Elk has served as a Subject Matter Expert on PTSD to USSOCOM, as a guest instructor at the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, provides consultation, education & treatment to USSOCOM’s Care Coalition and other military groups as needed, and is a professional member of Special Operations Medical Association. Dr. Elk, who served as Honorary Commander for the ASTS,927th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base and continues her work with the wing on the advisory board. Dr. Elk works with the Veterans court of Hillsborough County & Bar Association’s Military and Veteran Committee when needed.
She travels around the country speaking on mental health and performance topics, primarily PTSD, and offers treatment to warriors in need with the help of her air sponsor American Airlines/Air Compassion for Veterans. She collaborates with many organizations to achieve this such as AHERO, Gallant Few, Raider Project, Task Force Dagger Foundation, Hero Media Group, Elderheart/Mission 22, and Special Operations Wounded Warrior Foundation. She has a recurring segment on Fox News Radio’s Tipping
Point with Boone Cutler entitled ‘Training for Tactical Athletes’.
Dr. Elk provides straightforward information on psychological trauma, offers efficient, non pharmaceutical, corrective treatment and is frequently quoted as an expert in combat veterans mental health issues by the media.
David Glassman
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC Ret.
Born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Carmel, NY. After graduating from the State University of New York, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on August 5, 1988, designated a Naval Aviator on May 31st, 1991 and subsequently designated a CH-53E Helicopter pilot, December, 1991.
From June 1991 to May 1999, he served as a Squadron Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer in multiple Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadrons assigned to Marine Corps Air Station, Tustin, CA and Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC. He participated in two Unit Deployments to Okinawa, Japan and a Landing Force 6th Fleet Deployment to the Mediterranean and served in combat support operations in the Kosovo area of operations.
From June of 1999 to July of 2009, he served in multiple upper level staff tours with HQMC, Combat Development, Quantico, VA and Marine Aviation Training Support Group-21, NAS Pensacola, FL. He served as Marine Aircraft and Anti-Air Weapons & Control Systems Requirements Branch Head and as the CH-53K Helicopter Requirements Officer where he led the effort to secure the Department of Defense CH-53K Program of Record, a $24B aircraft service life program. He served as the MATSG-21 as Group Executive Officer from 2005 until he retired from active duty on February 1st, 2010.
From 2010 through 2011, he served as Director of Operations and Community Liaison for the Center for Strategic Military Excellence, Pensacola, FL and provided leadership and programmatic development designed to address gaps in veteran services provided by the Veterans Administration. From 2012 to the present, he continues to serve the community as a Partner of DigiPro Media LLC developing digital networks that serve small business and as a Board Member of America’s Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors (AHERO: http://www.aherousa.com) advocating for quality of life enhancement for veterans.
Kevin Adair
Growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, Kevin Adair was introduced to all kinds of music. Kevin has played music all his life. He started out playing piano, then guitar, and dabbled in drums, all self taught. He started mimicking what friends were doing on piano and would then go home on a little Casio keyboard and play things like "Phantom of the Opera." Later on he was introduced to guitar, and while he didn't know what a note or a chord were, he figured out that if he moved his finger on the string it made different sounds.
Kevin has graced the stage with some of the greats, (Drivin'-n-Cryin', Lee Ann Womack, The Commodores to name a few), and has written songs from the heart and the hip. He resides in Holtville, Alabama, and has played shows all over the southeast. Bringing his blend of soulful roots, screaming bluesy guitar and the storytelling of classic country, he mesmerizes the audience with grace and honesty.
Jeff Widenhofer
Jeff grew up around Detroit. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1997. After college Jeff served as a Navy Officer and Helicopter Pilot and deployed to the Middle East four times. While underway aboard Navy ships, Jeff continued to write, practice, perform, and record award-winning music.
Jeff produces music for movies, television shows and commercials. In 2014 he was in contention for two Oscar Nominations for his music in “MURPH: The Protector”. In the last year he has produced music for local and national television commercials, documentary films and independent projects.
Jeff spent 10 years in New York City working as a professional guitarist. He played in Broadway orchestra pits, television studios, major recording studios, and bands and churches all over the city. He now lives and performs in New Orleans.
Coffey Anderson
Coffey grew up in the small town of Bangs, Texas. His father worked at the jail and his mother was a junior high English teacher. He attended Howard Payne University and borrowed a guitar from a then girlfriend’s dad. Learning chords in his dorm room and singing would attract his fellow college students to come and listen.
Coffey uses music, comedy, and his personality to bring a spirit of joy and excitement to those around him. Coffey, Southern Man, standing at 6’5′′(without his hat), has an amazing stage presence along with a voice that is by far one of the best in country music! In 2008, Coffey was awarded 3rd place out of over 52,000 contestants on NBC’s Nashville Star. Currently, Coffey has over 300,000 downloads in iTunes downloads (without a record label), over 40,000 You Tube subscribers, 100,000 Facebook likes, over 31,000 Twitter followers and over 15,000 Instagram followers! Coffey is constantly touring. He’s on stage, performing rodeos, fairs, private events, festivals, and faith-based shows. Coffey is also a national commercial actor with the likes of Disney, Taco Bell, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Coffey has partnered with great charity organizations like: the Military Warriors Support Foundation based in San Antonio, Texas in order to help raise funds to award mortgage free homes to wounded war heroes. He has also partnered with Leer Vineyards out of Byron, California to become the face of Heroic Red Wine, which is a red wine that gives a portion of every bottle sold to the MWSF to support the awarding of these mortgage free homes. Coffey’s life-size stand up figure can now be found in Wal-Mart Supercenter’s across the country, In June of 2015, Coffey performed at his first ever CMA Festival in Nashville, TN. The “Southern Man” performed on the Navarre Family Watersports Stage, where he gained hundreds of new fans! Coffey performed at the 2-day event and became a crowd favorite instantly. With his unique voice and ability to engage the audience and capture their attention, new and existing fans gathered to witness his performance.