Florida Fun Shoot at Lakewood Ranch raises about $35,000 for veterans
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary W. Littrell praised Southeastern Guide Dog's Paws for Patriots program Friday for providing guide dogs free to veterans blinded in war.
Littrell, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Vietnam War, spoke at the Florida Fun Shoot at Ancient Oak Gun Club, which raised an estimated $35,000 for veterans.
"One of the things that bothers me is that we can send our young men and women to combat and blind them, but we can't supply them with a seeing eye dog," Littrell said.
Proceeds will be divided between Southeastern Guide Dogs, Operation Sec
ond Chance, Black Dagger Military Hunt Club and Support the Troops, said Dave Pfeiffer of Bradenton, an event organizer.
"We are supporting some fantastic organizations. It does my heart good to see people come out and to know we are raising funds to support our veterans," Littrell said. "Thanks to those who showed up today, Southeastern Guide Dogs will be able to provide more seeing eye dogs to our veterans."
A number of wounded warriors took part in the sporting clays shooting competition, including Jonny Flores of Plant City and Douglas Duvall of Tampa, both injured in improvised explosive device blasts in Baghdad.
"I love this event. I came last year, too," said Flores, 29. It was Duvall's first Florida FunShoot.
"It's a blast. It's really nice to see the support," Duvall said.
Twelve Gold Star families were recognized during the program. The Gold Star is the designation for families who have lost a member in war.
One Gold Star mother, Toni Gross, said her son, Frank, died in an IED blast in Afghanistan.
Even though she lost a son, Gross said she continues to serve as a volunteer for the USO at Tampa International Airport, and in the spinal cord injury unit at James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa.
"We just want to say God bless the USA, and vote," Gross said.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 and on Twitter @jajones1.
This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 11:33 PM with the headline "Florida Fun Shoot at Lakewood Ranch raises about $35,000 for veterans ."