For Immediate Release: Sunday, 9 October 2016
CONTACT: Jerry W. Derr
Rapid City, SD- Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation (SCLDF) announces their Annual Gala in support of veterans on Saturday, 22 October. The gala fundraiser will be held at The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center - LaCroix Hall, in Rapid City, SD. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with event ceremonies kicking off at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance.
Dr. Julie Ertz will MC the evening and former U.S. Army Captain Neil Fotre is the night’s main speaker. The gala which will feature a social hour, dinner, a silent/live auction and music from Orion Potter and Mark Williams. A business evening attire is recommended but not required.
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.
Come join us for the evening and honor our heroes. Help us raise awareness about the issues facing our warriors: PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), veteran suicide, homelessness, multiple deployments and the effect they have on our veterans and their families.
Why do we fight to stop the 20+ veterans who succumb to suicide every day? Sergeant Colton Levi Derr suffered with Post PTSD following his combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In support of American’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. Six weeks after returning stateside from his Afghanistan mission - Colton succumbed to suicide.
Colton’s father, Jerry Derr states, “Deployments find mission, duty and camaraderie. Coming home does not always mean peace, but often reveals confusion, turmoil, anger, depression and isolation.”
- For more information about the gala contact Jerry Derr at (605) 545-2505 / email jerry@sergeantderrfoundation.org or visit www.sergeantderrfoundation.org.