Woodward raising fund for troops

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October 23, 2008

WOODWARD — Mayor Bill Fanning has announced a fundraising effort for the city’s “adopted” unit of the Oklahoma Army National Guard composed of men and women from northwest Oklahoma.

Through the America Supporting Americans program, the city vowed to support Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. The Guard unit recently returned to the United States from deployment in Iraq.

Fanning said, “The city of Woodward, in collaboration with the Northwest Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Woodward Community Foundation, is sponsoring a fund raising drive to offer a gesture of the community’s appreciation to the Guard members and their families for their service to our country. The community has set a goal of raising $100 for each Guard member. I hope that citizens from across northwest Oklahoma will join us as we set out to fulfill this important effort to let these soldiers and their families know how much we appreciate what they have sacrificed for our country.”

The Woodward community will be hosting a series of special events on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, in honor of these local soldiers.

A homecoming ceremony will be held in conjunction with the community’s Veterans Day ceremony at Woodward High School beginning at 9:50 a.m. Norman Lamb, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will serve as the keynote speaker. The ceremony will be followed with an honor parade to First Christian Church of Woodward where a luncheon will be held for the soldiers, their family members, and local veterans. At the luncheon each of the Guard members will be presented with a monetary gift card resulting from the community’s fundraiser.

Those wishing to make donations for the fundraiser should make checks payable to the Woodward Community Foundation and send the donations by Nov. 5 to the Northwest Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1209 9th Street, Woodward, OK 73801.