Rockaway Warriors Weekend will be held July 9 through July 12 with the event bringing wounded veterans from near and far right to the peninsula, for a weekend full of fun on the water and around town. The weekend kicks off with a welcome parade on the evening of Thursday, July 9, when the warriors will come over the Marine Parkway Bridge, down Rockaway Beach Boulevard to Beach 121st Street, and back up Beach Channel Drive to Breezy Point, to begin the festivities. In anticipation of that, this year, the Knights of Columbus generously hosted a fundraiser for Rockaway Warriors Weekend on Saturday, May 30, with party band Wine With Sue entertaining supporters through the night.
Walter Rogers and Rich Whalen helped organize the event, which was a first for Rockaway Warriors Weekend. For a $20 donation, guests were treated to hot dogs, a cash bar, a drawing from a 50/50 that began weeks leading up to the event, with many tickets sold by Lynda Collins, Rockaway Warrior Weekend t-shirts for sale, and live music by Wine With Sue that had them tearing up the dance floor.
Wine With Sue’s lead singer, John Burke shared, “WWS is always honored to be a part of helping this great organization. We’ve performed for these injured veterans before at their opening dinner here in Breezy and meeting them and their families is always so inspiring. You can’t wipe the smiles off their faces. They are always so touched by the love they receive from The Rockaway Peninsula. And we are always amazed by their strength.
“Special thanks to Walter Rogers and Rich Whalen for all their hard work. Over $9,000 was raised and that will be a great help with organizing so many great events for our Warriors. Please be sure to be on that parade route when they come to town and show them our appreciation.”
Richie Cannon, one of the organizers of Rockaway Warriors Weekend was appreciative of the extra boost. “The Knights did a fantastic job and raised a lot of money,” he said.
