Son takes over reins of Freedom Fuel to help veterans

Farmington, New Hampshire, USA (September 29, 2019) — Some 200 Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association members gathered Saturday to participate in a charity ride to benefit Freedom Fuel, a nonprofit that helps veterans in need heat their homes.

Freedom Fuel was founded by the late Michael Dutile, who served in the Coast Guard and had a soft spot for those who served. On Saturday, Dutile’s son, Kevin, of the fifth generation to work for Dutile and Sons Oil Company in Laconia, had some big shoes to fill.

John Hutchinson, left, chapter commander of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 5-2, and chapter member Ray Dore Jr., offer a handshake to Kevin Dutile, right, who has assumed operations of Freedom Fuel, a nonprofit founded by his late father that provides emergency heating assistance to veterans. Bea Lewis/Union Leader Correspondent

Dutile explained Freedom Fuel had not even obtained its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status when his dad died at age 66 on Easter 2018, and then his mother, “Ricci,” his dad’s high school sweetheart, died at 64, on the following Fourth of July.

He credits his former father-in-law, Gregg Waugh, with getting the program up and running and giving him time to grieve. An Air Force vet who went on to pilot airliners for American Airlines for 30 years, Waugh has a similar desire to help those who serve. “Unfortunately, many of the guys are too proud to come forward,” Dutile said of how challenging it can be to get assistance to those genuinely in need.

Freedom Fuel makes arrangements for 100 gallons of fuel oil to be delivered to vets who are facing the choice of having to heat their home or pay for a vehicle repair for example, Dutile said. The charity serves the entire state and has helped some vets in neighboring Massachusetts.

“It’s meant to give them a push up the hill. They’re either out of fuel or are going to be,” he said. Freedom Fuel will make arrangements to have fuel delivered to a needy vet’s home for whatever source of heat they use, whether it be oil, propane or wood-pellet-like products.

Dutile's paternal grandmother went into labor during a February blizzard and his grandfather knew the only vehicle that would make it up the steep hill to the hospital was a fully loaded oil truck. “The family always said he was born in an oil truck,” Dutile said.

Dutile’s wife, Rebekah, recounted that even after her father-in-law Michael Dutile became ill, his desire to help those in need remained strong. “Even when he was home on the couch, he must have spent four hours talking a woman through how to get her furnace started,” she said.

“Mike was a great guy. He was all in for veterans and his son, Kevin, who has taken over the company, is as great as he was,” said Ray Dore Jr., a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, who served six years in the Marine Corps.

John Hutchinson of Weare, commander of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 5-2, announced shortly before the group started its 2.5-hour ride around Lake Winnipesaukee, that a $2,000 donation was being made to Freedom Fuel.

Dore told the hundreds of bikers who gathered at the Hawg’s Pen Cafe in Farmington for the charity ride that Michael Dutile’s legacy is assuring that no veteran is ever cold.

Donations to Freedom Fuel can be made online at www.dutileoil.net or by calling the Messer Street office.

SOURCE: New Hampshire Union Leader

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12th Annual Mesa Poker Run

Grand Junction, Colorado, USA (September 9, 2019) — The military may say, boots to the ground, well, this event is rubber to the road, for a good cause. More than 50 riders are benefiting our troops and veterans, by donating some bucks and driving their bikes.

The poker run is to help pay postage for care packages to the military based all over the world. Sure bikers enjoy the scenery from the ride, but the real reason they do it, is to show their support.

Source: Western Slope

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Poker run raises money for Disabled American Veterans

Brookings, South Dakota, USA (September 1, 2019) — Hundreds of motorcyclists took off for the 727th Disabled American Veterans charity poker run. Bikers started in Brookings and rode the 160 mile route for the poker run.

“The run started 15 years ago. The 727th was a National Guard unit that deployed to Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. When we came back we wanted to do something for the community that supported us while we were deployed. So we came up with the charity run idea,” poker run co-chair Bob Foster said.

Last year, the poker run raised $42,000. This year they hope to raise even more money to help more disables veterans in South Dakota.

“The money we raise here goes to support the hospital transportation network. It’s a network of 27 vans across the state of South Dakota that helps vets get to the VA,” Foster said.

Which is why organizers say they’re grateful for the support.


“I cannot say enough about the community and the support across the state of South Dakota that has been for this event,” Foster said.

“I tip my hat to them and with Bob leading the charge here, we’re going to help many more veterans, so we thank you,” Gene Murphy with Disabled American Veterans said.

Not including this year’s donations, the poker run has raised over $225,000 since starting 15 years ago.

SOURCE: Keloland News

Veteran drops off long lost military medals to family

Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA (August 6, 2019) — A collection of military medals lost over time is now back where it belongs. The “shadow box” was found for sale for $99 in a thrift shop in Florida. John Hilfirty, an Air Force veteran from North Carolina, embarked on a personal mission to get the box back home to Wisconsin.

Hilfirty says his friend in Pensacola, Florida came across the shadow box and posted a picture of it on Facebook. The box contained number medals and honors as well as a name plate.

“It immediately touched me, so I told him to go back and buy it,” said Hilfirty.

The box belongs to United States Air Force Senior Staff Sergeant Edward Holloway. Holloway served for more than 20 years in the Air Force from 1970-1991. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2005 due to cancer. His shadow box got lost after his death.

“He loved being in the service, it was really who he was,” said Heather Breunig, Holloway’s niece.

When Hilfirty came across the box, he decided to track down Holloway’s family.

“So we went to work using Google and Facebook,” he said. “We were able to track down his father’s obituary and we started pulling names out of that,”

His research led him to Breunig who lives in Baraboo.

“He didn’t have children. I am his niece but he treated me like a daughter,” she said.

Breunig received a Facebook message from Hilfirty, but Breunig was skeptical and ignored his message. But Hilfirty wouldn’t give up. He reached out to her adult children which caught her attention. Breunig finally decided to trust her instincts.

“I have a really big heart and I like to think there is good people in the world and I believe this is the real deal,” she said.

After about a month of messaging online, Hilfirty decided to make the trip to Wisconsin to drop off the shadow box in person. That meeting took place at the Municipal building in Baraboo on Monday.

“I have (my own) shadow box, it’s very similar so I would expect…I would hope that my family would want to keep that as a memento,” said Hilfirty.

Hilfirty and several of his friends from the “Fire and Iron Motorcycle Club” went on a cross-country trip and made a special stop in Baraboo to drop off the shadow box.

“You’re an angel, my friend,” Breunig said during an emotional hug.

“I got a surprise for you,” said Hilfirty. “You got a surprise?” responded Breunig. “I bet I know what it is!”

“I don’t know the guy but I can tell his service was exemplary,” said Hilfirty. “He was willing to write a blank check and cover that check with his life to give us the freedoms to do the things that we do,”

“It kind of feels like I’m hugging him, even though he’s been gone since 2005,” Breunig said holding the shadow box. “Thank you. All of you, thank you so much. That’s not even the right words. Like how do you say thank you? I know. You are all my family now, how about that?”

“It’s a warm and fuzzy feel-good moment that I am going to remember for the rest of my life,” added Hilfirty. “I couldn’t ask for a better ending,”

SOURCE: WMTV