Hero’s Hunt Honor Concert honors veterans

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Randall Moose
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

The Hero’s Hunt Honor Concert honored wounded veterans with speeches from local leaders, music by the Central High School Band and recognition from members of San Angelo at the Bill Aylor Sr. Memorial RiverStage Dec. 6.

The Hero’s Hunting Foundation is an organization that provides therapy, community and support to American veterans through hunting. The concert is a community event that honors the veterans before they begin their hunt.

“The Hero’s Hunt Concert is a product of the strong partnership between a base and its community,” said Lt. Col. Abraham Salomon, 17th Training Group deputy commander. “The purpose of the concert, in my opinion, is two-fold. First, it allows the community to show their appreciation for a veteran’s service and the sacrifices he or she endured, and continue to endure as a result of their military service.  Secondly, it tells a story. The Hero’s Hunt Concert serves as a way to educate the next-generation of U.S. Armed Forces members, families and others in the community, of the demands of military service.”

Members from the San Angelo community participated and thanked the veterans for their service.

“I’m here to support our wounded warriors,” said San Angelo Independent School District Director of Communications, Derrick Jackson. “Our veterans mean so much to what we do on a daily basis, to our freedoms through the sacrifices they make. I feel like I just have to be here in support of them. I need to talk to them, to say thank you for your service and thank you for your sacrifice.”  

San Angelo has a reputation of supporting Goodfellow Air Force Base and veterans.

“In my almost 28 years of military service, I have yet to witness a base-community relationship as strong and special as ours,” said Salomon. “It is special because our, the base’s, relationship with the community is founded on mutual respect and the desire to serve others. The community supports the military and we in-turn support the city of San Angelo and Tom Green County. Having had the good fortune of being assigned to Goodfellow three times, I can speak from experience that the community’s steadfast support for its military and our consistent contributions to the community is unwavering.

“I would like to say thank you to our veterans and their families. Thank you. For their selfless service and, more importantly, for the sacrifices each has endured for our nation and its people. We are a better nation because of our veterans and their families.”