The Patriot Gala November 3, 2018 at Quail Hollow Club http://patriotmilitaryfamilyfoundation.org/patriot-gala
Speaker announced: Michael "Rod" Rodriguez
Michael Rodriguez comes from a military family. His Grandfathers served during WWII and his father is a Vietnam Veteran. His wife retired recently after 21 years in the U.S. Army and his eldest son is currently serving in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division, marking the 16th deployment for the Rodriguez Household. Rodriguez advocates for Veterans and their families and speaks publicly on the need to decrease the misunderstanding between civilians and the military. He is a huge advocate for Art and the impact it has on everyone’s lives. He practices his very own art in the form of metalwork and blacksmithing.
Rodriguez serves as a member for President George W. Bush’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council, he is the Executive Ambassador for the Green Beret Foundation, sits on the Leadership Board of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation, and is also on the Veteran Advisory Council for the VA in North Carolina.
Join us on Saturday, November 3rd at The Patriot Gala where Rodriguez is the keynote speaker. The Patriot Gala is a premier black-tie event that raises funds to support our local military and veteran families.
The Virtual Reality Project: This year, the guests of The Patriot Gala are able to experience the Virtual Reality Project! This project shows the challenges faced first-hand by our service-disabled Veterans. The virtual reality project shares the story of Dale Beatty, a double-amputee, who served in a unit attached to the 1st Infantry Division near Bayji, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a result of their vehicle encountering anti-tank mines, Beatty and fellow unit member, John Gallina, both received life-altering injuries. Together these two men, after returning home, founded Purple Heart Homes to assist service-connected disabled veterans.
This project serves to educate the community about the challenges disabled veterans face. It is also a tribute to Beatty who passed away suddenly in February of this year who served this country both in and out of uniform.