Fallen Warriors, Families to Be Honored by Jr. Raiders

The Hillsborough Jr. Raiders will be honoring three local Fallen Warriors and recognizing their families at their games on Saturday October 6, 2012. The Jr. Raiders recently made US history by being the first organization in the Nation to participate in the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation's MyThankYouCoins.com Campaign. The Jr. Raiders will have their name engraved on the "MyThankYouCoins" recognition wall on the GoldStarWall memorial grounds.

The Jr. Raiders have been raising money to purchase a "ThankYouBrick" that will become a permanent part of the memorial. "ThankYouBricks" are engraved with a message of gratitude from the organization to our Fallen Warriors. The Jr. Raiders have set a goal to raise $1000 to honor our Fallen Warriors and help build the GoldStarWall.

The kids involved wanted to do something special to recognize their local Fallen Warriors, so with the assistance of the AFWMF and the New Jersey SOS three families were contacted to attend and participate in a special pre-game presentation for their Fallen Warriors.

The Jr. Raiders invite everyone out to enjoy the games, support the campaign and to be present to honor our local Fallen Warriors on October 6, 2012 at the 8:45 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm Jr. Raider Football games taking place at the Triangle Youth Football Complex (located at the intersection of Triangle and Stockton Roads, Hillsborough, NJ 08844).

The Jr. Raiders will be honoring the following Fallen Warriors:

Air Force Maj. Steven Plumhoff - Died November 23, 2003 Serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, 33, of Neshanic Station, N.J.; assigned to the 58th Operations Support Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; killed in a MH-53M helicopter crash on Nov. 23, 2003, in Afghanistan.

Army 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin - Died February 3, 2004 Serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 24, of New Jersey; assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.; killed Feb. 3 when an improvised explosive device exploded while he was conducting counter-IED operations along a supply route in Iskandariyah, Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Gerald Giordana Jr. - Died February 27, 2012 Serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, 47, of New Jersey, assigned to 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, based at Fort Bliss, TX.; died February 27, 2012 from a service related illness in Fort Bliss, TX.

The Hillsborough Jr. Raiders Sports Inc. started their "MyThankYouCoins.com Campaign on 9/29/2012. They chose this date to correspond with the 9/30/2012 Gold Star Mother's Day. They will run their campaign for 2 weeks with the goal of raising $1000. The AFWMF is so grateful for this organization and their willingness to participate. Co-Chairperson, Camie Johnsen said, "I think it will be a great experience for the kids and will help them better understand the sacrifices that are being made by those in the military and the ultimate price that is paid by some for freedom. The Jr. Raiders Cheerleaders are excited to perform for them." Under the direction of Coach Christy Kanaby, the cheerleaders have practiced and are ready to perform a patriotic cheer for the families.

The AFWMF developed the “MyThankYouCoins” campaign to help fulfill their secondary mission of educating the youth of a Grateful Nation about the sacrifices being made for our Freedom. "Education is essential to ensuring that their sacrifices are not forgotten. Our duty as the beneficiaries of the ultimate sacrifices that have been made by our Fallen Warriors is to honor, protect and preserve their legacies. We will do that by building the GoldStarWall", said Tonya Evans, the CEO/Founder of the AFWMF.

The American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation was founded in 2011 with the goal of building a memorial to honor our Fallen Warriors from the Gulf War to present date including combat related PTSD/Suicide and is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. The Memorial will be built in Kansas City, Kansas. The central US location was chosen to give more citizens the opportunity to visit their memorial. The mission of the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation is to honor, preserve and protect the legacies of all Fallen Warriors who have given their lives in the Gulf War to present date. They will do this by building a memorial that will contain photo plaques displaying the faces of every serviceman or woman who has given his or her life in the service of defending and protecting our country, including service related PTSD/Suicides. The AFWMF invites schools and organizations Nationwide to participate in the MyThankYouCoins.com Campaign. This is a great opportunity for the citizens of this Great Nation to offer hope and healing to the families of our Fallen Warriors. Schools/organizations can start a campaign by completing the online application form at http://afwmf.org/online-school-fundraising-form/.