THANKING OUR VETERANS

LETTER FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

Night Stalkers, Veterans and Patriots,

I had the pleasure and privilege to attend the Regiment’s 40th Anniversary festivities last month. Colonel Roger Waleski and his team did a fantastic job staging a world class event! Being around so many heroes, particularly the founding members of our storied Regiment, was humbling and inspiring. Their daring, innovation and "guts to try" paved the way for Night Stalkers to be the very best aviation formation on the planet. Today’s heroes carry their banner proudly building on and perfecting the national treasure that is the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

Please join the Night Stalker Foundation as we celebrate Night Stalkers, past and present, for their selfless and committed service to a cause greater than self, in peace and war. Like so many other Veterans, they chose to do so in the cloth of our Nation, willing to give all they had and all they were in the cause of freedom and justice. Quiet professionals, they chose to serve in a special way. As our Night Stalker Creed states:

Service in the 160th is a calling few will answer for the mission is constantly demanding and hard. And when the impossible has been accomplished, the only reward is another mission that no one else will try.

Please join me and our Foundation team in saluting our veterans, particularly our Night Stalkers, their Families and our Gold Star Families for their service and sacrifice. We stand ready to assist our Night Stalker Family whenever and wherever the need arises.

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit!

Kevin

Kevin W. Mangum
Lieutenant General (retired), U.S. Army
Chairman, Night Stalker Foundation and 10th Colonel of the Regiment

40th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

On Friday, October 28th we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment with a Gala and fundraiser at Gibson's Garage. With a great thanks to all our sponsors and those in attendance, we were able to raise $88,888 from donations and the silent auction. All proceeds from the event will go towards the Foundation's mission to fund the Families of Fallen Night Stalkers, Family Resiliency, College Scholarships, and Emergency Financial Support.

Attendees were able to hear speeches from General Doug Brown, Colonl Roger P. Waleski, and Josie Tuttle-Trimnal, as well as participate in the silent auction.

NSF INTERN CAMPUS UPDATE

In honor of Veterans Day, our interns have taken a look at how their campus communities celebrate our armed forces and this venerated day, as well as what the Day means to them as children of Night Stalkers.

Last Veterans Day the University of Tennessee, Knoxville announced it was building an Armed Forces Veterans Memorial for the fallen soldiers who were students, faculty, or staff since World War I. After a large research project to comb through University and Federal records for the names of alumni who gave their lives in service of this country, it was unveiled this past Memorial Day with a dedication ceremony including the Chancellor of the University and ROTC program.

The 365 names of the fallen are engraved into the 13-ton sculpture of Tennessee Marble, surrounded by the seals of each branch of the Armed Forces. The memorial is located in a central part of campus and serves as a great reminder to students and visitors of the sacrifices and bravery of those who served.

Gage Savage
Night Stalker Foundation Intern
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Sophomore, Major in Biochemistry
NSF Scholarship Recipient in Memory of CW4 Chris J. Sherkenbach

To me, Veterans day is a time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifices made by the men and women who have served. This day reminds me of my parents and their selfless service to be part of something bigger than themselves.

On campus, we are doing a joint force color-guard event with three ROTC programs, honoring our Duke University Veterans.

Madison "Maddy" Perez
Night Stalker Foundation Intern
Duke University
Sophomore, Major in Public Policy
NSF Scholarship Recipient in Memory of CW4 Larry K. Jones

*Left is ROTC Cadet and NSF Intern Madison Perez*

Growing up, I watched my dad deploy with no-notice and provide support for soldiers and their families. His selfless sacrifice to his job and country led me to value Veterans Day. At Vanderbilt University, I am thrilled to see the same support for the military. In recent games, Vanderbilt's football, men's basketball, and women's basketball teams have honored veterans through their uniforms and salutes to service. There is a breakfast to recognize Vanderbilt's staff members who have served. Chancellor Diermeier, Vice Provost Stratton, CAPT Erickson from Navy ROTC, and Megan Gemar, a Bass Military Scholar and Army veteran will speak at this event. The Army ROTC has crafted a specialty pin that is available to all Veterans.

As we celebrate our heroes, I am honored that I am able to do so on campus as well as at home.

Blakely Wilkinson
Night Stalker Foundation Intern
Vanderbilt University
Sophomore, Major in Neuroscience
NSF Scholarship Recipient in Memory of SSG William D. Cleveland

THE RESILIENCY PROGRAM

The Night Stalker Foundation hosted a couple’s retreat for 3rd battalion soldiers and their spouses at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on November 5th and 6th. Eighteen Night Stalker couples were able to enjoy a stay at an awesome beachside hotel, attend relationship-building workshops, work through a ropes course as a couple, participate in a professional beach meditation at sunset, and eat some amazing food.

Our intention for this event was to provide Night Stalker soldiers and spouses an opportunity to unplug, relax, and reconnect with one another. As the program coordinator I can proudly say we were able to accomplish that and give extra to those that the special operations lifestyle requires extra from. The workshops promoted important conversations, the ropes course a challenge to overcome obstacles together, beach meditation to slow down and connect more intently, and an overnight stay to truly slip away from the everyday stressors and responsibilities of life.

This retreat helped couples lean into one another and reminded them of the need to stay connected. Couples encouraged each other through challenging obstacles, spending intentional time together walking hand-in-hand down the beach, and sitting at dinner without distractions and engaging one another; all important to building a strong marriage. At the end of the retreat most couples felt better able to identify and mange stress in their relationship, and all felt validated in their Night Stalker lifestyle.

Click here to learn more about the NSF Resiliency Program and Charlie Trussell

AMAZON SMILE

As you shop online this holiday season, we ask that you support us at no extra cost. Using Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of all purchases made to the Night Stalker Foundation without any extra cost.

Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/, click get started, then search for the Night Stalker Foundation to select the charity. From there you can make purchases as you normally would.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

The Foundation is continuing to put on events to achieve our mission and thanks you for your continuing generosity to help achieve our goals: to support the Families of the Fallen Night Stalkers, to support the soldiers and families of the 160th and to fund the scholarships for these deserving students.

We are planning more events to come in the future and will keep you posted with details.

DONATE NOW

If you are planning your donation, please consider the Night Stalker Foundation's recognition levels for your generosity

Donation Recognition
$75-999 Bronze
$1,000-4,999 Silver, Order of the Wings
$5,000-$9,999 Gold, Order of the Dagger
$10,000+ Platinum, Order of the Crest

Donate today! And please know that every gift is appreciated and welcome: $5, $10, $25, $50.

Thank you!