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Let Us Never Forget Scholarships

Let Us Never Forget scholarships are set up to honor the memory of our fallen heroes with ties to the Ohio­—Kentucky—Indiana Tri-State area.  The April 9th fundraiser has provided funds for scholarships granted to deserving students in the name of each of our local soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. We must never forget the men and women who have given the ultimate…we must remember their names, their faces and their spirit.
In 2008, the scope of Let Us Never Forget scholarships was expanded to honor the memory of  at least one soldier from each of the fifty states.  
The Let Us Never Forget fundraiser funds scholarships in memory of our fallen heroes according to the wishes of his/her family. The soldier’s family nominates the school of their choice and works with the school’s administrators to determine criteria for earning the scholarship. The sponsored school is encouraged to involve the family each year in electing the recipient of the award to keep the spirit of our fallen soldiers at the forefront.
Once the Let Us Never Forget committee is notified of the family’s nominated school, a cashier’s check is presented to the school. The amount awarded to each of the participating schools is determined by amounts raised during the year and the success of the annual fund raiser.
Our scholarship program is dependent on monies raised during our April 9th fund raiser and donations from people,  just like you, who believe we must never forget the cost of freedom.
Every year the Yellow Ribbon Support Center organizes a dinner to generate monies for the Let Us Never Forget scholarships on April 9th.  You can help by donating and/or volunteering for the April 9th, Let Us Never Forget fund raiser.
Corporate sponsors are welcome. Please consider being our partner in this deserving program.
Donations to the fund can be sent to the "Let Us Never Forget Scholarships", P.O. Box 375, Milford, OH 45150 (make checks payable to April 9th Scholarship Fund) or deposited  at any Chase Bank.

SUCCESS! 2011 April 9th
Monday, April 11, 2011 01:14 PM

As predicted, the April 9th fundraiser was immensely successful. A final total is not yet available (check www.letusneverforget.org in a few days for a final accounting), but we can be sure that scholarships will indeed continue for the coming year. We can credit June Izzi-Bailey, her family and her troop of devoted volunteers for a magnificent job. Thank you, June and all.

 

Mr. Jack Cassidy of Cincinnati Bell did a fabulous job as our emcee. He was also most generous in purchasing several of the live auction items and donating them back to Gold Star parents. Anthony Muñoz, a Cincinnati favorite, not only performed his auctioneer duties with R. J. Vilardo with flare, but came forward at the last minute to provide an inspiring invocation.

Several Gold Star parents presented causes of their own to the Let Us Never Forget audience. Mr. George Lucas presented honor flags to Shannon Abernathy and Keith Maupin. It is Mr. Lucas’ intention to present an Honor and Remember flag in the memory of every service man or woman who has fallen in service of our country. His mission ties into that of both that of the Yellow Ribbon Support Center and Let Us Never Forget scholarships. We MUST remember. Congresswoman Jean Schmidt is currently co-sponsoring a bill to establish the Honor and Remember flag as a national emblem for that cause.

Mr. Jim Missman presented each of the Gold Star families with “Remem-bears”, a cuddly Teddy bear. Mr. Missman’s son, Greg, was KIA. Greg left his young son, Jack. It is Mr. Missman’s desire to provide “Remem-bears” to all of the young who have lost parents in Iraq and Afghanistan in hopes the bears will bring some small comfort to them.

Mr Karl Porfirio spoke of his son Tre. Tre died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Tre’s life was prolonged through the revolutionary work of doctors at Walter Reed Hospital and the University of Miami. When Tre’s damaged pancreas had to be removed, cells from his pancreas were injected into his liver, allowing that organ to provide the insulin needed by his body. Unfortunately, his body was not able to overcome other damage sustained.

Mr. Conley White, a singer/songwriter from Tennessee introduced “Never Forget”, a song he wrote for the Let Us Never Forget scholarships. He also performed several other songs honoring our veterans. A CD with “Never Forget” is available. Contact June Izzi-Bailey (see contacts page) for details.

Mr. James Rogers, also an entertainer from Tennessee and our local Ken Waterman Band entertained for the remainder of the evening.

It was an uplifting night of celebration. To those who were there, thank you for your support. To those who could not make it this year, we missed you and hope to see you in 2012.

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