Event: Social / Dinner / Silent & Live Auction / Guest Speakers / Live Music by The Potter Family
MC - Dr. Julie Ertz
MAIN Speaker - U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Stephen Daniel
Subject: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Veteran Suicide
Date: Saturday - 24 October 2015
Time: Doors open at 5PM
Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center / LACROIX Hall - Rapid City, SD 57701
Tickets: $35
1 October2015
RE: Gallantly Forward - 2015 Gala / 24 October
Dear Patriots:
We invite you to our annual Gala in support of Veterans on Saturday, 24 October 2015. Help us raise awareness about the issues facing our warriors: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), veteran suicide, homelessness, multiple deployments and the effect they have on our veterans and their families. Veterans from the Black Hills area will be in attendance and your presence and community support will be met with much respect.
The gala fundraiser will be held at The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center - LaCroix Hall, Rapid City, SD. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with event ceremonies kicking off at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. The gala will feature a social hour, dinner, a silent/live auction and live music from The Potter Family. A business evening attire is recommended but not required.
Dr. Julie Ertz will MC the evening and active duty U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Stephen Daniel is the night’s main speaker. Our 2014 Gala netted just over $15,000 and was attended by 280 patriotic community members. We have enclosed a graphic which outlines how we expended some of these funds. All of our staff volunteer their time; we have no employees. Financial assistance is just part of what we offer veterans and their families. Founded in 2012, SCLDF is steadfast in our three fold mission: Veteran advocacy, assistance and public awareness of the battles our heroes face when they come home.
If you can’t attend our event, we ask that you consider sponsoring a veteran in your stead. We are also looking for donated items for our silent/live auction. All donations are tax deductible.
Why do we fight to stop the 22 veterans who succumb to suicide every day? Sergeant Colton Levi Derr suffered with PTSD following his combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In support of America’s War on Terror during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring freedom, SGT Derr, U.S. Army 1st Calvary Division completed over 500 combat missions. Colton succumbed to suicide on April 28, 2012 following his Afghanistan mission. We honor Colton by assisting his fellow veterans and their families and respectfully request that you become involved in this battle.
Very respectfully,
Haley A. Derr, President
Josephine M. Dirksen, Vice President
Jerry W. Derr
Please contact us to donate auction items or purchase tickets:
- Jerry W. Derr @ 605.545.2505 / jerry@sergeantderrfoundation.org
- Haley A. Derr @ 605.209.2308 / haley@sergeantderrfoundation.org
- Josephine M. Derr @ 605.391.6983 / josephine@sergeantderrfoundation.org
- Tickets can be purchased online by clicking the link below or give us a call.
- You can purchase online tickets at the following link: TICKETS
Main Speaker
We are proud to have SSG Stephen Daniel as the main speaker at our GALA.
SSG Daniel is currently stationed at FT Bragg with 5th Battalion/ Special Warfare Training Group in language school as a part of entry training for psychological operations.
Married with three sons; SSG Daniel and his wife Crystal have experienced multiple deployments since his Army enlistment in 2006.
Multiple deployments
2006 Deployed to Diyala Province - Iraq / HHT 6/9 CAV 3 BCT 1st CAV division
2008 Deployed to Ninewa Province - Iraq/ Apache troop 6/9 CAV 3 BCT 1st CAV division
2010 Deployed to Baghdad - Iraq / Apache troop 6/9 CAV 3 BCT 1st CAV division
2013 deployed to Kandahar Province - Afghanistan /HHT 2/2CR
SSG DANIEL