Event benefits Wounded Warriors

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  The third annual Ooh La La Wounded Warrior Benefit Dinner and Dance took place Saturday at Atlantic Aviation's Albuquerque Sunport facility.

Keynote speakers included Mary Tallouzi, a Gold Star Mother, and Army Sgt. Eric Edmundson, a wounded warrior. Tallouzi spoke of her son, Army Sgt. Daniel Tallouzi, who sustained a fatal traumatic brain injury during combat in Iraq. Edmundson was seriously wounded by an improvised explosive device in 2005, sustaining an anoxic brain injury.

Through a computer-generated voice synthesizer, he spoke to more than 1,000 attendees and thanked them for supporting wounded warriors.

Team Kirtland volunteers helped sign people in and assisted with the silent auction and other activities.

After a Meals, Ready to Eat-style dinner, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band provided musical entertainment.

The benefit was the first of two annual events to raise money for wounded warriors. Ooh La La will also sponsor a Christmas Home Tour of eight to 10 homes Nov. 5-6, with all proceeds benefitting the Wounded Warriors Project. Tickets are $25. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.oohlalaevents.org.

Last year, Ooh La La representative and Blue Star Mother Teri Kruger presented a check to the Wounded Warrior Project for more than $500,000 during the Army/Navy football game. Ooh La La was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the largest grassroots fundraiser in both 2009 and 2010.

Although final numbers are not in, it is estimated that more than $100,000 was raised at Saturday's event.