Murphy – The skies were grey, but that didn’t stop the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Murphy Chapter 15-8, from their annual fundraising event on Aug. 20 at Band of Brothers Veterans Park.
The 2022 Freedom Fest brought a lot of folks out to the park to help raise money for veterans needing assistance.
“The event is going pretty well. We’re here to raise money for the veterans,” Commander Dave “Scout” Nelson said. “We do one every year. A lot of people have been coming and going.
“We’ve got two local bands playing, which are Rude Carpenters and Trial By Fire. We’re also raffling off an AR-12 shotgun, and we’re doing a 50/50 raffle.”
Richard “Two Feathers” Texeira, a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, was busy cooking up burgers, hot dogs and pulled pork that came from Rib Country. There was plenty of beer, soda and water to quench any thirst from the heat of the day.
Texeira said of the day’s festivities, “The turnout is good. The rain held out for us.”
Music could be heard throughout the park. A couple of large tents were set up to keep folks in the shade while they enjoyed food and drinks.
Gail Braddock seemed to be enjoying her time out.
“It’s a beautiful day, and we’re enjoying the food and the music. It’s great,” she said.
Her husband, Richard, added, “It’s a wonderful thing taking the time out to honor the veterans and have a chance to get everybody together.”
Marc Narkawicz is treasurer of the organization.
“We also have coming up at a later date, the 12 Guns of Christmas gun raffle,” he said. “There’s 12 different guns, and if you are one lucky person you could actually win all 12. The tickets will be $20 each, and if your ticket is drawn it will then go back into the hopper for another chance to win.
“All our funds are strictly to help veterans and families. We’re helping a veteran now get a cover for his chairlift so he can get up in to his house. We help with handicap ramps, anything like that, that somebody needs.”
It was Jimmy Mason’s first time to the park.
“The whole thing is great. The weather is comfortable, and I’m hoping the rain holds off,” he said.
The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is a national organization with chapters everywhere to help vets. Other fundraisers planned include a raffle for a freezer and food from Ingles to stock it with.
The different raffles that will be coming up for the Murphy chapter will be posted on Facebook. For details, call Nelson at 334-328-8503.