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Two Wounded Servicemen Honored At Annual Lacrosse Tournament In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Conn.  – The 9th annual Sticks For Soldiers Thanksgiving Charity Lacrosse Tournament held at Fairfield Ludlowe High School last month honored two U.S. servicemen who were badly injured serving our country. 

Sticks For Soldiers Thanksgiving Charity Lacrosse Tournament occurs annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Sticks For Soldiers Thanksgiving Charity Lacrosse Tournament occurs annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Photo Credit: www.sticksforsoldiers.org

U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Mark Holbert sustained life-changing injuries in the military in August 2010, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Alonso was injured in February 2014. Both attended the lacrosse tournament held in their honor.

Sticks for Soldiers is a nonprofit charity with a mission to raise money to support future needs of severely wounded soldiers, and promote youth awareness of military service through a statewide event.

Originating in 2006, the idea came from long-time lacrosse advocate Mike Voucas along with support from current Fairfield Ludlowe Head Coach Chris Parisi and a number of dedicated volunteers. 

In eight years, the tournament, which is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, has raised over $330,000 through team entry fees, silent auctions, merchandise, and corporate and private donations. This year, over 900 high school athletes from 64 boys and girls teams participated and played more than 125 games during the one-day event. Game officials from around the state of Connecticut, donated their time as did many volunteers from Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

Holbert, 36, of Rockville, Md., is a former 82nd Airborne and Special Forces Intelligence Operator, with 16 1/2 years of military service. He is married and father of a 7-year-old daughter. On his fourth deployment to Afghanistan, he was wounded in August 2010 from an IED explosion and lost both legs above the knee, several fingers and thumb while sustaining arm tissue damage. He continues to push the boundaries of his physical disabilities and has completed many hand-cycle races and triathlons. His ultimate goal is to complete an ironman.

Born in Jefferson Township, N.J., Alonso, 26, is rehabilitating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. A squad leader in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, he was injured in February from an IED explosion, where he lost both his legs above his knee. He is married with 1-year-old daughter who was born just weeks before his deployment. He has endured over 100 surgical procedures, yet has already wheeled himself in a 5K and made a climb up the 88 steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August.

For more information, visit www.sticksforsoldiers.org.

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