J.R. Martinez to be Honored at Oceanside Event

Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and Dancing with the Stars winner J.R. Martinez will be one of more than a dozen people to receive the Brain Injured Veterans Association’s 2012 Silver Eagle Patriot Award.

Oceanside city councilman Jack Feller will be the guest speaker at the , which will be held at the at the .

Proceeds will benefit the association’s Art and Music Program, which helps veterans with traumatic brain injuries with motor skills and confidence.

“They learn how to play the drums — how to release some of the inner feelings that they have,” association director Captola Wickes said. “It gives them a way to regain some sort of self-sufficiency so they can reenter … into society.”

The begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Star Theatre and is followed by the Rock & Roll and Doo Wop Show. Tickets for the event are $25 and sponsorship for a service member is $15. Call (877) 287-7455 to order tickets.