Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) announce another very successful National Family Day – their 6th annual event held on Saturday, October 26th at the San Antonio Police Training Academy, a 700-acre facility ideal for shooting, entertaining, eating and making new friends among the over 300 disabled veterans / wounded active duty military personnel and family members who attended. Shooting industry representatives and members of the SAPD community totaled over 100 volunteers hosting these heroic American families as they re-build their lives after debilitating injuries. The highlight was the attendance of R. Lee Ermey (The Gunny), who supervised a pro shooting exhibition, signed autographs, and raffled off over $15,000 worth of sponsor-donated guns and accessories to these wounded warriors. Each military participant received a valuable gift bag of outdoor products, and every child who attended left the as the proud owner of a raffle prize.
“The San Antonio Police community and the Texas National Guard do an awesome job in helping us host this annual event for warriors and family who have suffered in support of freedom, and now search for their future back home. We, in the shooting sports industry, are proud to be a vehicle to help them rebuild their confidence that tomorrow will be a better day,” said HAVA Chairman, Tom Taylor. “HAVA’s 17 sustaining sponsor companies, plus another two dozen contributing companies are all showing these warriors that America is behind them for the long haul. We believe our commitment to the entire family unit is the best way to show our support, knowing that all of them have suffered from these terrible injuries.”
“The HAVA event makes the 2,300-member SAPD proud to serve these American heroes as they re-build their lives, and we work hard to be sure that each one leaves a winner.” said Chief Bill McManus of the San Antonio Police Department. “HAVA’s ability to marshall the resources of their entire industry for this cause is inspiring and we are committed to multi-year support of this partnership. It was a pleasure to watch The Gunny entertain and interact, but perhaps more moving were the looks on the faces of these warriors’ kids as they learned to shoot an airsoft pistol, or claimed their prize from the raffle table. This is what makes our partnership with HAVA so special for us. It’s the fact that we are contributing to the future of these very deserving San Antonio area families.”
The HAVA/SAPD National Family Day was a day-long affair featuring “The Gunny”, plus pro shooters Rob Leatham, B.J. Norris, Tate Moots and Trevor Baucom – along with 3-gun shooting, a HAVA University training school supported by NSSF’s First Shot staff, airsoft stages for 13 years and younger, daycare for toddlers, 3 meals provided by several SAPD groups, gift bags, raffle prizes and much more. It was a day of giving back to these deserving families who have answered America’s call.
For more information, please visit www.honoredveterans.org and www.sanantonio.gov/sapd.aspx
About HAVA
HAVA is a 501(c)3 organization formed by companies in the shooting and outdoor industry with the purpose of raising awareness and further assisting disabled veterans with their healing process through guided hunts, shooting events and other outdoor sports activities. The sustaining sponsor companies are Smith & Wesson, NSSF, Mossberg, Yamaha Outdoors, Crimson Trace, Leupold & Stevens, Surefire, Hornady, Ruger, XS Sights, Taurus, Proof Engineering, Academi, Glock, Sig Sauer, Diamondback and FMG Publications among numerous contributing companies. Those who would like to learn more about the HAVA organization can do so at www.honoredveterans.org.
About SAPD
The San Antonio Police Department consists of 2100 officers dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of San Antonio by creating a safe environment in partnership with the people they serve. They act with integrity to reduce fear and crime while treating all with respect, compassion and fairness. Learn more a www.sanantonio.gov/sapd.aspx