DAV Honors Middle East Veterans at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is hosting their 2022 annual veterans tribute dinner at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. This year’s event “Tribute to our Veterans Who Served in the Middle East” will focus on veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the Gulf War. The event takes place during the Veterans Day weekend on Saturday, November 12 at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Veterans, supporters and all who wish to thank our local heroes, are invited to attend. All guests must be 21 and over for this event.

This year’s dinner will honor veterans who served in the Middle East including the War in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; War in Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom; Persian Gulf War: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Desert Sabre.

As the keynote presentation, former POW Jessica Lynch will share her incredible story. Lynch is a former Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army and a former Prisoner of War. On March 23, 2003, she was injured and captured by Iraqi forces after her unit, the 507th Maintenance Company, was ambushed in Iraq. Jessica was taken as a prisoner of war and was held in captivity until she was rescued from an Iraqi hospital by U.S. Special Forces on April 1, 2003. Jessica’s rescue was the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II. Jessica has been awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Prisoner of War medals. The keynote address is sponsored by South Shore Friends of Veterans.

Will Beiersdorf the Executive Director of the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago will share information about his organization’s mission to help veterans. Beiersdorf is a Naval Reserve and Illinois Army National Guard veteran. He served in Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. Beiersdorf founded Salute, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation focused on assisting and supporting injured military members and their families. He has been working with the military and veteran community for more than 12 years.

The Road Home Program is dedicated to the mental health and wellness of veterans, service members, members of the National Guard, reservists and families at no cost and regardless of discharge status. No one left behind includes every veteran and service member impacted by the invisible wounds of war. The Road Home Program at Rush University specializes in treating PTSD that resists traditional methods of treatment. The team at The Road Home Program brings clinical innovation and research into the root causes underlying traumatic injury and adjusts the course of treatment to meet the circumstances of each individual.

After the speakers, Chicago's premier Dave Mathews tribute band Trippin Billies will take the stage. The concert is sponsored by Wicker Park Memorial Fund and the Victory for Veterans Memorial Ride.

Tickets are $30. Dinner is included and a cash bar is available. Proceeds will benefit the DAV Glenn F. Renicker, Chapter #17, Department of Indiana, Hammond; Chapter 102 of Valparaiso, and other service organizations in the Northwest Indiana area. Ages 21 and up. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tribute-to-our-veterans-who-served-in-the-middle-east-tickets-403647088307 For questions about seating, please call Kelly Bridges at 219-313-3934.

Sponsorships are available. Please contact State Commander of the DAV for the State of Indiana, Bob Carnagey at 219-629-0594 or email bobcarnagey@msn.com .

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, IN, directly adjacent to the I80/94 Burr Street Interchange. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit https://www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.

About DAV

Disabled American Veterans, Department of Indiana is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The DAV is a non-profit organization formed in 1919, by military veterans who suffered some degree of disability while actively serving our country. We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering the USA military service veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.

About Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana:

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s $300 Million casino and entertainment destination opened to the public on May 14, 2021. Hard Rock’s premier 200,000-square foot entertainment complex features over 1600 slots and 80 table games totaling more than 2,100 gaming positions. It’s five food venues include Hard Rock Café, Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, YOUYU Noodle Bar, Fresh Harvest and Constant Grind Coffee Shop. It also features a retail shop and recently opened a 1,954-seat Hard Rock Live performance venue.