As our 13th Annual Helping Heroes Gala goes on hiatus for 2020, the #carecontinues when considering the needs of our military and veteran families.  While our home has remained open with limitations, additional families have been placed in partner hotels, keeping them together for hope and healing during a medical event.

Want to help us fulfil this mission?  Ways include visiting our online auction, it’s ready for review and easy to bid.  Items include our very popular bucket list vacations, a crowd favorite in our 400-person black tie event each year.  YOU get to be included this year from anywhere USA.  Register early by texting helpingheroes to 22454.

The auction opens October 15 and will conclude October 22.  Here is the auction site.  

Remember, it’s not just a shopping experience.  It’s a way to bless military families.  At Fisher House, we are a blessing connection.  Giving generous supporters the opportunity to bless a military family in need, saying thank you for your service and sacrifice in a very real tangible way.  #loveisgoodmedicine

Our organization formed in 2007 with some dynamic folks who love our military and that still rings true today. Here is the ground breaking in 2008. Trec Chedister had a foot on the shovel back then, and remains on our board today. We are grateful for the GREAT folks who move a lot of ground to make things happen.

Help us Pave the Way to 2021 and beyond with a commemorative brick. Buy a brick, honor a loved one with a paver that lines the path to the gazebo, to hope and healing for our families and you get a cool stress brick. $100. Listen here how YOU make a difference with a brick. https://conta.cc/330MzHJ Chris Curtis was our featured speaker in 2018. What a story! https://conta.cc/3cugbk9

We make some YUMMY lemonade from the year that is 2020…..meet Alan and Leighanne from the Village at Baytowne Wharf. They donated prized Sandestin Wine Glasses, we added a Fisher House charm AND a chance to win an electric bike all for a $20 donation to our #carecontinues campaign. Be 1 of 2,020 to give $20 this year here. https://conta.cc/3j3vEK9

What is FUNraising at Fisher House? We have FUN raising FUNDS to care for our military families. #carecontinues has bling boxes for a donation of $100. What is a bling box, I’m glad you asked. A chance to bless a military family, way important plus you get a box of surprises which includes a $40 gift card to one of 5 select restaurants who love our Fisher House. Party on Garth….in place, with a gala-2-go box from Fisher House! Get yours here.

As our home turns 10 this year, we are grateful for the partners in the community who love our military like we do. Meet Whitney Bradley Brown, also known as WBB – and this all-star cast led by James and Laura Fulton, board member and secretary Jim Yurack and his spouse Amy, and The TEAM. What a FUN group of Fisher House fans! #loveisgoodmedicine.

Hall of Fame Announcement! At Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, ALL our board members are Super Stars and do amazing work with us and others in the community. Help us Celebrate our recent Hall of Fame awardee, Teresa Halverson. Past Chair of our board.  Teresa served an unprecedented four year term, leading our organization through a rebuild that continues to care for our military families in a big way and remains actively engaged with our mission.  Teresa was recognized for her contributions to the military community and joins an elite group of women who have made a significant impact on the residents of Okaloosa County.

She joins Shirley Pigott, another past chair and inductee.

Each year around August 26 which is Women’s Equality Day, the commission hosts a special reception to recognize the new inductees. Photos of the women are in Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame are displayed perpetually at the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Building, the Niceville City Council Chambers and in the Crestview Courthouse. Inductees come from all walks of life, races, educational levels and contribute to our county from many, many areas.

2020 Field of Valor New Release

Once again the Niceville Exchange Club will host the Field of Valor (FOV) at the Boggy Bayou Festival field in Niceville. Due to the COVID-19 virus, the FOV will be open for only one day (11 Sept 20). The opening ceremony will be held at 11:00 September 11^th and flags will be flown for  those men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan since 9/11/2001 from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties and the 7^th Special Forces Group(Airborne) members who were killed there since last year’s ceremony.  Sponsored flags will also be flown in recognition of eligible veterans.  The field will remain up until 4 P.M. on the 11^th. Colonel Kevin Trajillo, Deputy Commanding Officer 7^th Special Forces Group(Airborne) and General Patt Manney will be speakers.

Anyone wishing to attend is strongly encouraged to social distance or wear a mask. For further information or to sponsor a flag, please contact Paul McShane at 850-225-0412.

William Moomaw

President Niceville Exchange Club

850-376-6153

[email protected]

It’s Thankful Thursday ya’ll as we near our 10th birthday celebration with #carecontinues. Many times our community comes up with creative ways to do what they love to do professionally and bless our families. Meet Rick Gonzalez, a Realtor who gives back. Be like Rick. He dedicated a percentage of commissions from his Hero Program to our Fisher House. #loveisgoodmedicine Need a good Real Estate Professional who invests in his community? Choose Rick, and be like Rick!

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) — The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund kicked off its Eglin Heroes Week virtual event to celebrate the official opening of the Intrepid Spirit Center, Aug. 24.

Eglin Air Force Base’s ISC, the first on an Air Force base, is a treatment center dedicated to post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, associated pain conditions and psychological injuries in active-duty service members.

The event began with a ribbon-cutting with Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander and Eglin AFB leaders cutting a red, white and blue ribbon.

Cain said the ISC effort took years of vision led by patriotic citizens, military leaders and the Air Force’s Invisible Wounds Initiative.

“I want to tell everybody how proud I am for Eglin AFB to host the Air Force’s first ISC. This culmination and capability is what we are celebrating here today and rolling out for our service members,” Cain said.

The EISC represents the blending of the IFHF mission and the Air Force’s Invisible Wounds Initiative, which recognized the need for a medical facility dedicated to invisible wounds.

In 2018, when the Air Force broke ground on the Invisible Wounds Center, Arnold Fisher, honorary chairman of the IFHF, offered to build an Intrepid Spirit Center at Eglin AFB.

“The ISC is our commitment to treating those with wounds from service and our dedication to providing service members the opportunity to continue their service to the nation,” Cain said. Hear from General Cain here.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. provided virtual remarks on the milestone moment and acknowledged that invisible wounds take a toll on our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Space Professionals and their families.

“When they are injured in the line of duty, we will support their medical needs and we will see them to a better tomorrow,” Brown said. “The ISC building will bring first-class care and is an enduring expression of our gratitude, love and commitment to taking care of our wounded warriors.”

Throughout the week, virtual videos appeared on IFHF social media highlighting the new facility, the therapists, its state-of-art capabilities and Eglin AFB heroes with a connection to the ISC.

Eglin AFB’s ISC is unique from other ISCs in that it’s the only center with an interventional pain suite which contains top-of-the-line x-ray and ultrasound equipment, as well as dedicated interventional pain physician and team. In addition, Eglin AFB is also the first ISC to use a kiln for art therapy and the first to have a dedicated chapel and chaplain to address spiritual healing.

Brown closed his remarks speaking directly to the service members who will use these facilities.

“The permanent nature of this facility represents our unyielding commitment to providing world class medical care to you and that we’re here for you for as long as it takes,” Brown said.