By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient who lost his leg in combat will keynote an upcoming Yukon banquet.
The Yukon Veterans Museum will celebrate its eighth year at an annual gala set Thursday, Oct. 14 inside the Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore. Festivities start at 6 p.m.
Featured speaker will be U.S. Army Maj. (ret.) Ed Pulido, who was injured when his military convoy was struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Maj. Pulido is founder and CEO of the “Heart of Lion” John Daly – Major Ed Foundation, which provides mental, physical and wellness support to the nation’s children and United States’ veterans.
“We are the ‘safety net’ to make sure that no one gets left behind on the field of battle and that you’re taking care of on the home front,” Pulido said.
Other highlights of the Oct. 14th Yukon Veterans Museum Gala will be a silent auction, dinner and live music.
Sponsorships are still available for the Oct. 14th anniversary gala – red ($500), white ($300) and blue ($100).
Individual tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for anyone 12 years and under.
‘HONORING ALL WHO SERVED’
Yukon Veterans Museum founder/curator Rick Cacini thanked supporters of the Yukon Veterans Museum. The museum’s slogan is “Honoring All Who Served.”
“We want to honor our armed forces, not only on this special occasion, but each day we open the museum doors and share the history of the sacrifices made for our freedoms,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. (ret.) Cacini said.
For the past eight years, the Yukon Veterans Museum has occupied a 4,100 square foot space inside the American Legion Building at 1010 W Main.
The museum features: Battlefield gear, historic photographs, newspaper and magazine clippings, flags, uniforms, helmets, weapons, military documents, and much more.
The museum’s regular hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, but appointments outside those hours are available.
Yukon Veterans Museum board members are Rick Cacini, Jeff Kranz, Jenny Crane, Jerry Icenhower, Ron Edmonson, Casey Barnett, Eddie “Mac” McFadden, Jack Stewart, and Jerry Stafford.
For more information, call (405) 517-1901, (405) 314-5791 or (405) 514-6794.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Maj. Pulido was serving in August 2004 in Baqubah, Iraq with the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team.
Pulido was commanding a convoy heading into hostile territory when it was struck by a roadside bomb. The IED ripped through his vehicle, the shrapnel causing major damage to his left knee.
He was evacuated by helicopter from the battlefield, later spending weeks in intensive care. On Oct. 1, 2004, doctors had to amputate his leg.
For his heroism and valor, Maj. Pulido was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement medals.
Maj. Pulido is senior vice president and ambassador of the Folds of Honor Foundation, a veterans’ charity that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of the fallen and wounded.
He is a founding member of the Warriors for Freedom Foundation supporting wounded veterans and their families, and the founder of the Warrior Nation movement focused on the rights of liberty, freedom and patriotism.
