LIVERPOOL, NY – “22 veterans are committing suicide everyday and it’s awful. What these guys and gals see in combat, they can’t unsee. Some people go through this, come back, and they’re fine, but some people don’t come back fine. You never know what your mental breaking point is until you have to experience this stuff,” Rick Carlesco said.
And for that reason, Carlesco partnered with Heather Graham to start the non-profit organization Victory for Vets, Inc. whose mission is to resuce and train dogs for veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The dogs, trained by Clear Path for Veterans and the Corporal Kyle Schnieder Foundation, provide both a loving and helpful companion as they are able to go anywhere and can help to subdue PTSD attacks at any time.
“I’ve seen what these dogs do for veterans, it’s amazing,” Carlesco said. “This helps the vets live a more normal, stable life.”
Each year, Victory for Vets hosts a music fest event at Sharkey’s of Liverpool to gather people together for a good time and garner support for their cause.
This year, in its fourth year, Victory for Vets will headline Molly Hatchet at Sharkey’s Summer Stage on August 5 for a true southern rock summer shindig for a good cause.
Gates will open at 1p.m. and the event will deter, rain or shine.
By 3p.m., 100 motorcycles will roar through the event from various motorcycle groups, a fitting tribute when considering that the roots of motorcycle clubs can be dated back to the immediate post-WWII era comprised largely of veterans.
The National Anthem and 21-gun salute will then kick off the start of a day full of rockin’ live music.
At 3:30p.m., Dirtroad Ruckus will take the stage followed by Scars N Stripes, The Jason Wicks Band, and Held Hostage who is donating 50% of the proceeds to Victory for Vets and whose song “Show Me the Way Home” was written as a tribute to the nation’s fighting forces.
At 8p.m., Molly Hatchet will grace the stage and anyone who snags an advance sale VIP ticket will secure a meet and greet with the band.
Having raised $45,000 for their cause since beginning Victory for Vets, Carlesco and the rest of the VFV board are hopeful and excited to continue providing such services to local veterans.
Visit the Victory for Vets website for more information and to purchase tickets.
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