Event on Saturday at Dubby’s served 300 veterans and their families
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jerry Shaffer, a Medina native who is co-founder and president of the Red Star Foundation, gets the crowd ready for the winning 50/50 number during an event Saturday at Dubby’s Tailgate. Todd Graham of the Who Dats is at right.
The Red Star Foundation and Orleans County Veterans Service Agency teamed for the event at Dubby’s which offered veterans and their guests free food and games.
The Red Star Foundation highlights the issue of suicide by veterans and first responders.
The Red Star Foundation has a banner and a pin with a red star as the focus to be given to loved ones in a design similar to the banners for Gold Star and Blue Star families. Blue Star families have a loved one on active duty. A Gold Star family had a loved one killed in active duty.
The Red Star banners honor the service of veterans or first responders, and Shaffer said he believes the banner can reduce the stigma of suicide. He wants to help build a network of support among the families who have endured such a loss.
Rich McAdoo, a Medina native and Ridgeway firefighter, presents the 50/50 winnings to Dakota Morasco. McAdoo is on the board of directors for the Red Star Foundation. McAdoo is recovering from a motorcycle accident about two months ago.
“Veterans are very near and dear to my heart,” said McAdoo, who works with the Border Patrol. “Suicide is a major problem in the veterans’ community.”
The Red Star Foundation is working to set up a peer-to-peer network to help veterans in a mental health crisis.
The organization was launched 1 ½ years ago. Many veterans suffer from depression and many have a post-traumatic stress disorder. When they leave active duty, their chances of suicide increase 50 percent, Shaffer said, because many feel a loss of a sense of identity and purpose, and a loss of their military community when they are no longer on active duty.
Saturday’s event was funded with support from the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Project, which includes state funding for social events and support for veterans to help them not feel so isolated and connect with their communities.
The Who Dats were one of two bands that performed during the event. They are shown performing “Two Tickets to Paradise” by Eddie Money. The band includes, from left: Ed Hilfiker, Alex DeSmit on drums, Lonnie Froman as lead singer, Todd Graham and John Borello.
Travis Fitch performed from 1 to 3 p.m., and The Who Dats were on stage from 3 to 6 p.m.
Del Reid, co-founder of Bills Mafia, met with Bills fans at Dubby’s. He also had many of the T-shirts from 26 Shirts. He is holding one of his favorite shirt designs about Buffalo Wings.
26 Shirts sells limited edition Buffalo-themed apparel. It has raised over $2 million to support families battling a health crisis, including many children with cancer.
Mike Beach of Albion, right, purchased one of the items from 26 Shirts. Del Reid is a well-known Bills fan.
He said Bills Mafia is about the greater community of Buffalo Bills fan, who are passionate about their team whether in a long playoff drought or as a Super Bowl contender.
