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Veterans Blue Wing Fest Set For Sunday

The annual Blue Star Mothers collection for Christmas packages to be sent to U.S. military troops overseas will start on Veterans Day.

Susan Rowley, Blue Star Mothers of America Lake Erie-New York Chapter 4 president, said the second annual Blue Wing Fest will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Lakewood Rod and Gun, located at 433 E. Terrace Ave., Lakewood. She said the event is open to the community and tickets are available at the door for $10. She added there will be 12 different kinds of wings to choose from, basket raffles, music and the football game.

“We will also be drawing our winning ticket to the Blue Star Mother raffle and also we will be drawing the winning ticket for a beautiful Adirondack double glider that was donated by the Falconer Vacuum Shop,” she said. “All proceeds will go directly to help send care packages to our troops. There is no better way to remember and support our Veterans on Veterans Day.”

During the Blue Wing Fest, Rowley said people can bring items to donate toward the Christmas care packages for deployed troops. She said the Blue Star Mothers will be collecting until Thursday, Nov. 29, when they will meet at the Fluvanna Community Church, located at 3363 Fluvanna Ave., at 6 p.m. to organize all that was collected. She added the organization will begin packing the Christmas care packages on Saturday, Dec. 1, starting at 9 a.m.

“Last year, we sent 920 care packages because of our amazing community. We were able to pack and send them in three hours, which was amazing,” she said. “The sense of patriotism in the room that day was overwhelming. The public is welcome to join us, again. It is a real feel good moment to give back to those who have unselfishly sacrificed for us by being deployed all over world. We want to send them our Christmas love from Western New York.”

Rowley said anyone wanting more information on how to become a collection site, make cards and letters or to donate items can contact the Blue Star Mothers at bluestarmothersny4@yahoo.com, or call 499-6897 or 450-5593. She said anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can do so by sending a check to Blue Star Mothers NY4, P.O. Box 22, Jamestown, N.Y., 14702. She added all donations will be used to send care packages to men and women serving overseas away from their families during Christmas.

“Postage cost was about $20,000,” Rowley said about the packages sent last year. “We are able to do that with help of the community. We always say we are the vehicle and the community is the fuel, and last year we felt like a rocket. It is a very special moment, a patriotic moment for our community. It means so much to us, especially us, the mothers.”

If someone has a loved one who will be deployed this Christmas, contact the Blue Star Mothers to submit their address so they can be added to the list. If any business or organization would like to be a collection site, can also contact the Blue Star

Rowley said the Blue Star Mothers will also be involved in Wreaths Across America Saturday, Dec. 15, at 11:45 a.m. at Soldier’s Circle at Lake View Cemetery.

“This is a time when America comes together at the same time to place wreaths on Veteran’s graves and their names are read as you place a wreath,” she said. “It is a way to remember and honor those heroes and be sure they will never be forgotten. A time of remembrance and honor.”

For more information on how to sponsor a wreath, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/43949/Overview/?relatedId=16653. People can also find more information at bluestarmotherswny.com.

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