Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. is a founding and sustaining member of Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA). As part of HAVA’s continued efforts to facilitate hunting and shooting activities for veterans, Yamaha, among others, supported, staffed and sponsored the 4th Annual HAVA National Family Day in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, November 12. 2011.
Below is an overview of the successful event. Additional images are available upon request.
HAVA Holds Fourth Annual National Family Day
San Antonio, TX – Honored American Veterans Afield hosted 150 disabled veterans and wounded active duty personnel and their families (over 250 attendees) at HAVA’s 4th Annual National Family Day at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday November 12, 2011. The day of shooting, entertainment, food, raffles and fellowship also featured exhibitions by USA Shooting Team members Mark Weeks and Haley Dunn. The event offered a unique 10 stage 3-gun competition format while still keeping fun and safety at the forefront. Tremendous industry volunteerism made this possible.
Numerous shooting sports companies contributed prizes for the adult raffle which awarded over $10,000 in prizes and hunts to these deserving American heroes including firearms from Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, Glock and Sig Sauer. XS Sight Systems hosted an air soft course of “fire” and a Kids Raffle which awarded prizes to all of the youth attendees. Local VFW District 20 served lunch and dinner for the attendees and 200 local middle-school children created personal thank-you notes to the troops for their dedicated service. Since 2008, HAVA’s National Family Day has served over 600 Wounded Warriors and family members and has become the shooting sports industry’s finest expression of its appreciation of those who serve so valiantly.
“It is our privilege to represent the industry in thanking those disabled veterans and wounded active duty heroes and their families who have given their full measure of commitment to defend America’s freedom,” said HAVA Chairman Tom Taylor. “National Family Day has grown into a major event for the wounded warrior families from Brook Army Medical Center, numerous transition house facilities and Fort Hood; and our attendance has tripled since the initial event despite numerous other Veterans Day and Marine Birthday festivities. Our focus on support for the entire family is unique and the sacrifice of spouses and kids is applauded. We believe that getting the disabled and wounded out on a hunt or to a shooting event is sound therapy for those who are trying to rebuild their lives and reinforce confidence in the future despite personal challenges. Several dozen shooting sports companies have joined this effort and we solicit support from all interested companies and volunteers.”
About HAVA
HAVA is a 501(c)3 organization formed by companies in the shooting and outdoor industry with the purpose of raising awareness and further assisting disabled veterans with their healing process through guided hunts, shooting sports and other outdoor sports activities. The sustaining sponsor companies are NSSF, Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, Yamaha Outdoors, Crimson Trace, Leupold & Stevens, Surefire, Hornady, Ruger, XS Sight Systems and FMG Publications among numerous contributing companies. Those who would like to learn more about the HAVA mission can do so at www.honoredveterans.org
About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States.
Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.
