Silver Eagle Patriot Award
April 16, 2011
David was one of the celebrities at The Foundation for Brain Injured Veterans' Celebrity Sock Hop at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Pacific Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Ave. Carlsbad, CA. The event was held to raise money for the Music Therapy Centre. David was honoured to be presented with the Silver Eagle Patriot Award.
Video - Award presentation
David was interviewed by Mason from 105.7 The Walrus, San Diego.
Video - The Interview
Newspaper Report
The Coast News April 21, 2011 - Local residents jumped and jived at the Foundation for Brain Injured Veterans’ third annual Celebrity Sock Hop — a fundraising event to establish a veterans’ music therapy center in North County — in Carlsbad on April 16.
Attendees were all dolled up in 1950s attire for the trip back in time, which included a cocktail mixer and dinner, performances by living legends and a night full of dancing at the Sheraton Grand Pacific Resort and Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive.
Funds were raised through entry and raffle ticket sales, which will be put toward the construction of a music therapy clinic for veterans in the North County area.
“Our veterans with brain injuries need a place like a music therapy center that will help them get back into mainstream society,” Captola Wickes, executive director of the Foundation for Brain Injured Veterans, or FBIV, said. “We owe it to them.”
Event-goers were eager to twist and shout for a good cause, showing their full support for local music therapy services. Once built, the clinic could supplement services offered by the Veterans Affairs center in Oceanside, Wickes said.
“It really means a lot to see that the foundation is doing this because the veterans need all the help they can get,” Patti Lovvorn of Oceanside said. “It’s a great event.”
Retired and active military members were also in attendance to have fun and pay respect to their “fallen and wounded brothers,” Richard Lilly, an event volunteer and retired Marine, said.
“It’s a good opportunity to give back and support the veterans from past wars that are here tonight,” Staff Sgt. William Todd said. “We have it easy compared to what they went through.”
Live entertainment included performances by Sha Na Na, a band featured in the movie “Grease,” and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Shirelles. A Classic Car Show was made possible through volunteer support from car owners in North County.
“The entertainers and volunteers have all given their time because they really believe in our service members and think they need to be taken care of,” Wickes said. “They want to see this music therapy clinic built too.”
Wickes and the FBIV team are committed to bringing a music therapy center to North County in the near future and hope that the recent event will put them one step closer to achieving their goal.
“The road to recovery should be paved in gold for our returning veterans,” Wickes said.
For more information on the Foundation for Brain Injured Veterans’ efforts, visit foundationforbraininjuredveterans.com.
