Operation SEAs the Day to Host Wounded Warriors and Families at First-Ever Beach Week September 3-8
Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 03, 2013 -- Twenty-five wounded warriors and their families will alight at Bethany Beach, Delaware, September 3-8, to enjoy an all-expense paid week with everything from beach homes and meals to spa treatments, fishing and golf, delivered by Operation SEAs the Day.
Operation SEAs the Day—the culmination of a desire by three Bethany Beach homeowners to show a community’s gratitude to the men and women who risked their lives and sustained injuries while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan—is the first event of its kind.
“We wanted to do something special for our military men and women wounded in combat, and for their families, something to help ease their transition back into civilian life,” said Dr. Richard Katon, one of the three organizers of Operation SEAs the Day.
“We started planning this in November and we are thrilled by the enormous level of community support and enthusiasm we’ve received. People are not only offering their beach homes and sailboats but retailers will be providing our visitors everything from meals to movies and fitness center access to horseback riding.”
The service members and families—named VIFs or Very Important Families by the organizers—were chosen from 70 applicants by the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project. They will be traveling from eight states along the East Coast to Bethany where host families will greet them at a reception from 3 – 5 p.m. at VFW Post 7234 in Ocean View, Delaware.
“We wanted to make sure that their every need was supported, so we’ve ensured that a host family will be on hand all week to provide them whatever they need, including transportation,” said Katon.
In addition to Katon, Operation SEAs the Day is the innovative idea of Diane Pohanka of Virginia and Becky Johns of Bethany Beach.
Katon says that it is the hope of all three organizers that other communities across the country will replicate the stress-free beach week and that it will continue to be offered in Bethany in succeeding years.
Contact
Dr. Richard Katon
240-793-7660
or
Sandy Cogan
sandy(at)sandycogancommunications(dot)com
703-731-9045
Sandy Cogan, Sandy Cogan Communications, +1 (703) 731-9045, [email protected]
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