Veterans Day Appreciation Dinner to be held in Mansfield, Featuring Guest Speaker J.R. Martinez

MANSFIELD, PA (WENY) -- The Mansfield Foundation is hosting a Veterans Day appreciation dinner for those who served in our nation's military.

The dinner will be held on Friday, November 8th at the Mansfield Fire Hall at 381 South Main Street. In addition to dinner, the event features at Salute to Service, including special comments from Tioga County Commissioner and U.S. Army National Guard veteran Sam VanLoon, musical performances by retired Tioga County Commissioner Erick Coolidge and retired Department of Defense instructor Carl D. Ruck. The Tioga County Honor Guard will also be featured, as well as a special exhibit of military memorabilia from the personal collection of Carl D. Ruck and Robert Rockwell, III.

The event's guest speaker will be J.R. Martinez, a U.S. Army combat veteran in Iraq who suffered burns over 34% of his body in March 2003, when his military vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. After years of recovery, Martinez has become a motivational speaker, sharing his story of resilience and his experience to inspire others. Martinez is also an actor, becoming well known for his role on ABC's All My Children as "Brot Monroe", an Iraq War combat veteran who returned home to civilian life; a role he played for three years. Martinez later went on to compete on ABC's Dancing With the Stars, taking home the mirror ball trophy in the show's 13th season. He has also co-starred and guest starred in other shows over the years, and featured on news programs such as CBS' 60 Minutes. 

The Veterans Day Appreciation Dinner will begin at 5 P.M. Members of the military, veterans and a guest attend free; tickets are available at $25 per person. Tickets must be reserved by contacting the Mansfield Foundation at 570-463-4040, or emailing Denise Davey at [email protected]. 

Limited seating is available; RSVPs are required by Tuesday, November 1.