Recently, I attended a concert for Project Blessing and a “Tribute to Wounded Warrior” hosted by Beethoven Found at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Project Blessing supports the Lincoln Heights community with food and clothing, with the goal to provide shelter, warm clothing, and nutritious food to the residents. Beethoven Found’s “Save the Music” program purchases brand new musical instruments for students in underserved communities.
While the dropout rate of High School students in this area for certain demographics is approaching 67%, studies show 95% of high school students who are involved in a music program, graduate high school and then go on to college – a staggering statistic! Many of the area’s high schools have wonderful music programs with dedicated teachers, but inferior or no musical instruments. Beethoven Found has given thousands and thousands of dollars worth of instruments to deserving students who otherwise couldn’t afford them. This, as well as their support of the Wounded Warriors, are the reasons I decided to support Beethoven Found.
Wounded Warriors is a cause that is the community’s way of saying “Thank You” to the dedication and loyalty of the brave men and women and dogs who have pledged their lives to protect our freedoms. It was so humbling to see a sampling of these service members who have survived severe wounds and injuries and great odds, while protecting our freedom. Seeing these brave men and women in person is so different from how our military is portrayed on television and in the print media, where they appear infallible. However, these wonderful Americans, who sacrifice for all of us, are just that, Americans like you and me, just ordinary folks, trying to make in this crazy world, but with the physical and mental scars and injuries sustained while fighting for our country.
According to the website of Beethoven Found, “For every U.S. soldier killed in World Wars I and II, there were 1.7 soldiers wounded. In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, for every U.S. soldier killed, seven are wounded. Combined, there have been almost 42,000 injured in the two conflicts – nearly 32,000 injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and nearly 10,000 in Operation Enduring Freedom.”