7th Annual HAVA/SAPD Family Day Rocks
San Antonio P.D. and HAVA Serve 340 Military and Family Members
San Antonio, TX – October 25, 2014: Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) announce another very successful National Family Day. This was the 7th annual event held on Saturday, October 25th at the San Antonio Police Training Academy, with 340 disabled veterans and family members in attendance. Served by over 100 volunteers, these American military families enjoyed a day of shooting, air soft, laser games, food, great gifts, an impressive raffle table and good fellowship among others who are trying to re-build their lives after being wounded in service to our country.
For the second year, one of the highlights was the attendance of R. Lee Ermey (Gunny), who worked the range, signed autographs, and raffled off several guns and high value accessories to wounded warriors. Each veteran received a valuable back pack of outdoor products and every attending child went home a winner from a kid’s raffle. Attendees were also entertained by a spectacular shotgun shooting exhibition by Micah McMillan.
“The HAVA event is special to us as we get to interact closely with heroic veterans that have served freedom,” said Chief Bill McManus of SAPD. “Many of our officers are ex-military and to serve these disabled veterans is a privilege that we look forward to all year. The support that HAVA gets from the shooting sports industry is quite evident, and their ability to recruit volunteers with heart is the core of our event. It’s great to see Gunny and the terrific pro shooters, but to see the looks on the faces of these warriors and their families who just want to enjoy the day is nice for us. The San Antonio military community seems to really appreciate the HAVA/SAPD event, and we’re just proud to play our part.”
“The 7th Annual Family Day event is a milestone for HAVA from where we began in 2008 with a small industry group taking four injured soldiers on a hunt,” said HAVA Chairman, Tom Taylor. “The industry response to our efforts continues to be outstanding as our needs grow, and our 19 sustaining sponsors and dozens of other supporting companies dig deep to provide the funding and product donations that make those smiling faces possible. We will serve over 1,000 this year on hunts and shooting events, and are increasingly our industry’s most powerful voice of support for America’s injured veterans. Nowhere is that support more evident than at our San Antonio event where the SAPD and HAVA make a very formidable support team for disabled veteran families.”
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, Mossberg, NSSF, Academi, ATK/Federal, Crimson Trace, Diamondback, FMG Publications, Glock, Hornady, Leupold & Stevens, Proof Research, Ruger, Surefire, Sig Sauer, Taurus, XS Sights, Barrett and Yamaha Outdoors 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 2,300 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