ST. PATRICK NIGHT PARADE 2011

JAN - MARCH 2011
AMPUTEE VETERANS OF AMERICA SUPPORT TEAM
ACA MEMBER
ST. PATRICK NIGHT PARADE 2011
FUN TIMES St. Patrick Night Parade hosted by Tampa's Rough Riders. This was AVAST's fourth year in taking part in the St
Patrick's parade. A special thanks goes out to William Brannon and family of Panama City, for providing the float and truck for
the festivities. Bill Brannon Jr. was the driver and provided most of the "elbow grease" putting the float together. I admit the
float gets better every year. AVAST members and families helped decorate the float with flashy red, white and blue fringe, they
placed lights on the canopy, float, and made it really stand out. Food was provided for everyone and everyone helped by
bringing their coolers and seats. This year AVAST invited a number of special guests to share in the fun with us. Andrea and
Bobby from Amputees Together, Betty and Dan from C-FAST, Central Florida Amputee Support Team, Lea and Kathy, nurses
from the VA Hospital, Lydia Sanjurjo from Chicago, we would like to thank all the marshals that helped out, Sharon, Scott, Paul,
Andrea, Kathy, and Lea.
What a great time at the staging, before the parade, music filled the air, people dancing in the street, the great costumes that
were worn by different participants. The variety of floats from all the different krewes, more than 90 floats took part in the
parade. You should have seen all the pirates and the ladies with their fancy costumes and dresses, straight from the Gasparilla
Parade. All in all, what a great, fun time was had by all. If you missed it, there is always next year, and do not forget the
BEADS!!!
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for their continued support and
generous contributions to our AVAST
programs.
Rudy Salas, Pres.
I am excited!!! All
the things that are
happening for AVAST
AVAST golf season kicks off with a
at this time. To name
visit
to Innesbrook Golf Course and
a few, invitations
Country Club, for the Transitions
across the country by
Championship Golf Tournament,
different groups to help AVAST and
held March 17-18, 2011.
our quest to provide support for our
April 1st, AVAST opened a brand
veterans. The new web site, the new
new Web site, avastonline.org, with
finished "shed", our new white hats,
the help of Deann Garcia, who has
good guys wear white hats, the way
many years' experience with nonour float looked this year for the St.
profit organizations. She designed
Patrick's Night Parade, participating
and set up our web site.
in all the golf tournaments this
Providing this web site will help
season.
AVAST bring in new members and
AVAST golfers were invited to
The one thing I need from all the
potential donations by showing what
attend the tournament and watch
AVAST members, you heard me ask a
we are all about. The site provides
from the 16th green, where
million times, I want everyone to get
photos of events and has a calendar
Innesbrook set up a military
involved. The more members we
for future happenings. Please take
appreciation deck, complimentary
get involved in our different events,
time to visit the new web site. We
food and drink were provided and a
the more new members want to
look forward to your feedback and
Transition tournament golf cap was
join. It is contagious! Try it you will
suggestions.
Please send your
given to each member of AVAST.
like it. I feel great when I hear
photos of AVAST events to our email
people say, that is AVAST, when they
address
see us dressed up in our AVAST shirts
[email protected], to be
and hats at the different events, our
used in our newsletter and web site.
team sticks out. I am proud to say I
We also want to send out a big, big
am a member of AVAST.
thank you to Deann Garcia for all of
Semper Fi,
Next on our list was the Arnold
her continued help and contributions
Rudy Salas
Palmer
Invitational Golf Tournament
to AVAST.
813-928-1631
held at Bay Hill in
Orlando. AVAST would
like to thank
Brian
and
Nancy
We would like to extend our
Coleman
from
Golf
appreciation
out
to
April 3, 2011 everyone was there…
Supports Our Troops,
AVAST would like to thank all that
for being such great
participated in the building of the
hosts.
They provided AVAST
shed. A special thanks goes out to
members with $25.00 each for lunch
James Witherington, owner of
and refreshments. Bay Hill set up a
Terrace Hill Golf Course and Steve
military appreciation deck on the
Allberry, AVAST member, for putting
17th green, from that advantage
a lot of time and effort to "get er
point we were able to see all the
John and Kathy Schobel
done".
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
GOLF SEASON OPENS
AVAST WEB SITE
AVAST GIVES THANKS
SHED DEDICATION
golf's greats come by including, Phil
Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Next IMG Academy & Golf
Country Club, Bradenton, followed
by
USF
Student
Veterans
Association's Veterans on the Green
Tournament.
MEET THE MEMBERS
Doc Milligan was
born in Dayton,
Ohio on July 1,
1946.
He was
raised on a farm
outside
of
Phillipsburg, Ohio,
where he attended Northmont High
School and graduated in 1964. He
participated in sports as a three-year
letterman, in football, wrestling and
baseball. Joining
the Navy in June
'65, receiving a
medical
discharge
in
March '69 due to
injury
aboard
ship,
as
a
machinist
repairman.
Over the years,
he worked as a
plumber
and
pipe fitter, and racing bicycles with
his brother, Sean, on BMX tracks in
Ohio and Indiana; until his leg got so
bad he had to change his occupation
to a salesman. At age 50, he moved
to Spring Hill, FL, and had to walk
with crutches for the next ten years,
in June of 2006, lost the battle with
his left leg, which was amputated
just below the left knee at James A.
Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. After
receiving his prosthetic leg, Doc
started riding a bicycle across
America for the last years with a
group called Amputees Across
America. This journey is 3,700 miles,
stopping at thirty rehab centers just
to let patients know that life does
not have to stop after a serious
injury.
About a year ago, he was asked to
join a group of guys, who happened
to be amputees, known as AVAST.
After joining AVAST golfers, he has
played on some of the finest golf
courses this country has. He feels he
is one of the luckiest persons in the
world, by having the opportunity to
ride a bicycle and play golf with two
of the finest support teams in the
world. He met hundreds of beautiful
people across this land of ours, and
has been blessed with so many new
friends across America.
experienced, influenced, assisted,
helped, coached, and caddied for
multiple "in and out" patients
rehabilitating at the James A. Haley
VA Hospital in Tampa Florida for the
Adaptive Golf Program for over three
year now. As of September 2007,
Jack has approximately 862 hours
documented with the Tampa VA and
180 of them on the golf course.
The Tampa VA's Recreational
Therapy Department – Adaptive
Sports Program offers recreational
opportunities to promote wellness,
fitness and introduction to any
leisure pursuit to our service men
and women.
Jack's wife, Virginia, along with
several members of AVAST were in
attendance to cheer and show
support for Jack.
Therefore, if
anyone says we don't know
Jack…we say we know and love Jack
Smith!
WE KNOW JACK
Our Mission Statement
Contribute actively to integrate the
amputees with their families, health
professionals, peers
and the
community. To provide the amputee
physical, mental and spiritual
rehabilitation.
PCA Caddy Hall of Fame Induction
ceremony, January 28, 2011, held at
PGA show in Orlando, FL, Jack Smith
received the Bucky Walters Spirit
Award – Caddy/Coach for Challenged
golfers with special needs. Jack has
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please visit our website at
avastonline.org
SPORTING CLAY
BENEFIT
On Saturday, February 26, 2011,
members of "Ye Notorious Krewe of
the Peg Leg Pirates" hosted the 6th
Annual "Get on the Good Foot"
shotgun sporting clays event.
AVAST shooting team made up of
Jerry Lemoyne, Rudy Salas, and
Steve Allberry, participated in the
annual fundraiser to provide custom
hand cycles and tricycles, automobile
hand control devices to veterans,
sponsor children at amputee camps,
and establish scholarships for
veterans and their families.
Rusty and John from Terrace Hill Golf
Club
Recreational Department at VA
Hospital
Birdies for the Brave
Bill Gower, Research &
Development, VA Hospital
Chad Martin, VA Hospital
Kathy Williams, VA Hospital
Monroe, Solo Rider
AMVets, Post 44
David Windsor, PGA PRO
Recipient of the Patriot Award 2011
Paul Short, Professional Accounting
Associates, Inc.
Creating Smiles
for
AVAST
One smile at a time. Thank you
Dr. Yen and staff.
Bill Copeland and Dave from
Copeland Prosthetics
"SHOUT OUT"
Thank you for continued support:
(In no particular order)
John & Kathy Schobel
Zellwood Station Veterans
Brian & Nancy Coleman
Golf Supports Our Troops
Ken Juhn, PGA Pro
Frank Swinford
Mr. & Mrs. James Witherington
Jack Smith
AVAST Advisory Council
AVAST Officers
Deann Garcia
Lake Jovita Men's Association
Lake Jovita Women's Association
Brian & Marilyn, Freedom Excursions
USF Prosthetic Development &
Research
USF Veterans Association
W. E. Brannon & Son, Inc.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Rudy Salas
–Chief Editor
Mary Salas
– Technical Support
Michael Mulligan - Meet the Members
Thank you to AVAST members and friends
that supplied pictures:
Steve Allberry
Doc Mulligan
Lea Rashka
Paul Salas