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Town concert to benefit Iraq and Afghan vets
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| | | On hand Tuesday to announce the benefit concert were, from left, Foghat’s Roger Earl of East Setauket; councilwomen Kathy Walsh and Jane Bonner; Cindy Dickson from Suffolk County Homefront, Inc.; and Charles Ross of the Suffolk Police Veterans Association. Photo by Jennifer Choi (click for larger version) | |
September 03, 2009 | 09:49 AM
The Town of Brookhaven will host a fundraising concert in October for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
Supervisor Mark Lesko announced at a press conference Tuesday that the Vets Rock! concert will be held on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Brookhaven Amphitheater in Farmingville to benefit three local veterans organizations: the Suffolk Police Veterans Association; Suffolk County Homefront, Inc.; and 9-1-1 Veterans.
"We felt it was important in the Town of Brookhaven to honor our veterans, particularly our newer veterans who served and sacrificed for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan," Lesko said. "The Vets Rock! concert will not only be a tribute to these heroes, but also be a benefit concert for some local veterans organizations who work every day to assist veterans and their families. We hope you will join us in honoring our vets and enjoy some great music."
Tickets for the benefit concert will be priced at $25, $35 and $45 and go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 8. The fundraising event will feature John Kay & Steppenwolf, Foghat and Molly Hatchet, according to town officials. Residents can purchase tickets at www.brookhavenamphitheater.com; or calling the box office at 451-8010 or Ticketmaster at 888-9000.
"Our amphitheater is the perfect location for this concert — a world-class venue in the shadow of the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans monument," Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point) said in a release. "This concert will be a wonderful evening of great music that will support these organizations who make sure that our veterans who return from hostile areas — and their families — are taken care of."
"The Vets Rock! concert is a great way for our residents and their families to say thank you to the veterans who have served and sacrificed so much for us," Councilwoman Kathy Walsh (R-Centereach) stated, "and to enjoy an evening of great music and fun events."
Also attending Tuesday's press conference at the amphitheater was Roger Earl, drummer of the rock band Foghat. Earl, an East Setauket resident since 1973, said his band decided to get involved in Vets Rock! because "it's a great cause." The drummer said he and his bandmates have previously participated in numerous events to benefit veterans, including a concert in Memphis, Tenn., and a visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Foghat, whose members
recorded music in a Port Jefferson studio from 1978 to the early 1980s, will perform on the amphitheater stage for the first time in October, according to Earl, who has been playing the drums for 51 years. "We always support our troops," Earl said. "We've been waiting for an opportunity to play here."
Ken Bombace, president of the Suffolk Police Veterans Association, said his organization is "very excited" to sponsor the Vets Rock! concert. The unstable economy makes it "harder and harder for nonprofits," Bombace said, adding "There are a lot of people in need out there."
John Jex of 9-1-1 Veterans said, "Anything that anyone can do, how big or small, we're grateful for it." Also noting the difficulty of raising money during tough economic times, Jex said 9-1-1 Veterans is "very excited to be one of the organizations chosen to receive funds" from the concert.
Cindy Dickson, president of Suffolk County Homefront, Inc., agreed that Brookhaven's fundraising efforts will provide her organization with a "huge boost to our funding." "We're looking forward to spending it to turn it back to our troops," Dickson said, noting that the concert is an "excellent opportunity to represent the people who have served our country."
Although the three nonprofits are sponsors of the event, the Town "is underwriting all costs to the concert, and the organizations will keep all profits," according to the Brookhaven statement.
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