Folds of Honor 2015
The Folds of Honor Foundation is rallying a nation to ensure no family is left behind in the fight to preserve American freedom, through scholarships and other assistance.
Farrell Distributing is once again teaming up with the Vermont Lake Monsters for the “Here’s to the Heroes” campaign, a promotion based on the existing Anheuser-Busch “Here’s to the Heroes” program, benefiting the families of fallen soldiers.
For the entire season, Farrell Distributing will donate $10 to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Program for every run scored by the Lake Monsters at home. The Lake Monsters will also host a “Stars and Stripes” Jersey auction with the proceeds benefiting the Scholarship Program.
Through these programs and other initiatives, Farrell Distributing will be funding three (3) $5,000 scholarships to eligible applicants.
The mission of the Fold of Honor foundation includes giving back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country through scholarships and other programs. The scholarships are intended to offset the rising costs of post-secondary tuition and fees, textbooks, room and board, course-required tools, approved tutoring, and other school-related expenses.
Scholarships can be used immediately, or can be held with the Foundation on behalf of young children until their time of enrollment.
Interested individuals should complete and submit either an immediate or future-use application as appropriate, as well as satisfactory evidence that they qualify according to the existing eligibility requirements.
For more information and eligibility information see: https://foldsofhonor.org/scholarships/.
“Once we learned of the Folds of Honor Foundation it was clear we wanted to do more to support our nation’s heroes and establish a scholarship” said David J Farrell, president of Farrell Distributing. “Our partnership with the Vermont Lake Monsters provided a perfect vehicle to build awareness and raise money for these honorable families.”
In addition, for each Vermont Lake Monster home game, forty (40) reserved seating tickets will be distributed to local military families courtesy of Farrell Distributing. Any unused tickets for Military Families will be given to local charities or those in need.
A Major component of this program is to help find deserving scholarship recipients, please help us in that mission here in Vermont. http://www.foldsofhonor.org/donate
About the Foundation
The Folds of Honor Foundation is rallying a nation to ensure no family is left behind in the fight to preserve American freedom. Through scholarships and other assistance, we give back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country. We provide healing, hope and an opportunity for dreams to be realized…with the support of people like you. We feel this is our duty as citizens of the greatest country in the world.
Our Calling
Over 700,000 soldiers have been killed or disabled in the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan–Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. These service members’ families exceed the national average of 2.5 dependents per household. As of January 1, 2014, over 1.4 million dependents have been adversely affected by multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 87% of the dependents affected by the recent wars do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance. While the federal government provides some support for these families, it cannot succeed alone without proactive civilian organizations to assist.
The need is great, and, to paraphrase the words of Patrick Henry, their battle is ours. As Americans, we feel a collective duty to honor those who have sacrificed by serving the families they leave behind.
The Founding Folds
“The whole inspiration of our life as a nation flows out from the waving folds of this banner.” – Author Unknown
America’s service men and women knowingly risk their lives by choosing to protect and serve their country. Our country. And while they face unknown horrors in the fields of battle, their families are confronted with an equally devastating reality at home when a loved one in uniform is killed or wounded.
Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, became painfully aware of this crushing truth while returning home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. As his flight touched down, the pilot announced they carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board and asked – out of respect for his heroism and family – all passengers to remain seated while his casket deboarded.
Major Rooney watched the flag-covered casket exit the plane. He watched Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother, who had had accompanied his fallen brother home from Iraq, walk somberly among the procession to meet his family. Among them was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob. Major Rooney ached as he thought of his own beloved wife and little girls at home. The experience of seeing the other side of war through the eyes of Jacob, was instantly life-altering for Rooney.
A few moments later, Rooney returned his awareness to the cabin of the plane. Sadly, more than half of the passengers on the flight had disregarded the pilot’s request and had deboarded. Torn by this irreverent display in the light of the agony he saw in the eyes of loved ones left behind, Major Rooney decided he had to act. He needed to do something… first, to pay tribute to American soldiers and to their families; and secondly, to live as a reminder among civilians that it is our duty to appreciate and honor the ultimate sacrifices of our heroic service members who preserve the freedoms each of us so easily take for granted.
Knowing he couldn’t change the fate of fallen soldier Corporal Bucklin, Major Rooney made a decision to spend his life changing the future of America’s grieving spouses and children. In 2007, he formed the Folds of Honor Foundation… a 501C-3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities otherwise unavailable to this most deserving group of heroic American citizens.
Today, Folds of Honor Foundation exists to provide hope of a brighter future for those whose lives have been permanently altered as a result of their service to our great nation.
A Name of Honor
The United States flag is our nation’s most beloved symbol of freedom. When it flies, we are reminded of our American freedom. When lowered and folded, it becomes a solemn tribute to our servicemen and women and the allegiance, valor and pride with which they have fought for generations. During the flag-folding ritual, each fold offers honor and remembrance for America’s greatest individuals, values and beliefs.
It is in the sixth fold – made to honor the Pledge of Allegiance – that our hearts lie. For it is with allegiance and pride that we now give back to those service members who continue to protect America’s blanket of freedom.