 |
Soldier’s “Drum Hike” For Fellow Troops
Soldiers’ Angels is supporting former U.S. Army Specialist Troy Yocum as he hikes and drums 7,000 miles across America, raising funds for military families. The sixteen-month journey, beginning April 17, will cross thirty states and thirty-seven major cities in effort to “drum up” donations, support, and awareness for military families who need financial assistance. Funds raised will be distributed through Soldiers’ Angels, which is supplying the custom-painted chase vehicle for Yocum’s journey.
Throughout his hike, Yocum will also carry a custom Louisville Slugger baseball bat for mayors and governors to sign, assisting the Soldiers’ Angels’ bid to declare October 26 “Day Of The Deployed,” a national day of honor. Yocum will present the bat to the White House on May 11, 2011.
“It means the world to me to have Soldiers’ Angels behind me,” says Yocum, who is also being supported by Yamaha drums, Latin Percussion, and Sabian. “I don’t think I could’ve garnered the support I already have without them. More than any other organization, Soldiers’ Angels has believed in me from the beginning. Their continued faith in my project has brought everything together.”
Benefit events associated with the Hike will span the nation, including motorcycle rallies by Patriot Guard Riders, a Blue Star Mothers convention, mini marathons, concerts, and meet-and-greets. Flags Across The U.S.A. will follow Yocum in several cities with an official Flag Truck flying what they describe as the largest American flag to trail a licensed vehicle, and the “American Flag Parachutist,” Dallas Wittgenfeld, will skydive into cities, announcing Troy’s arrival.
Throughout the hike, Yocum will loop the bases at over twenty minor league baseball stadiums, team up with “Heroes Of The Diamond” to entertain fans and honor America with patriotic events at stadiums, and participate in ceremonies to rename America’s highways for fallen heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Yocum will live-stream his journey, presenting a video blog and interviewing U.S. veterans on DrumHike.com while tracking his progress on Google Earth. Troy is also encouraging anyone interested to join the hike.
Established in 2003, Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families, through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org or call (615) 676-0239.
|
|
|
|
Back to News Headings
