FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation executive director set for 100-mile run

Continuous run from Waco to Dallas on Memorial Day weekend seeks to raise $100,000

DALLAS — Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation Executive Director Ryan “Birdman” Parrott will be embarking on a 100-mile continuous run through central and north Texas on Memorial Day weekend with a goal of raising $100,000, the equivalent of $1,000 per mile, for burn survivors.

Parrott, a former US Navy SEAL, will begin his trek at the national cemetery in Waco, Texas, at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 26, and finish Monday morning at Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Burn Unit in Dallas. A portion of Parrott’s non-stop trek will take him through West, Texas, on Sunday morning as a tribute to the victims of the April tragedy.

Upon completion of the run, Parrott is scheduled to attend the closing ceremonies of Dallas’ Carry the Load Memorial March. Sons of the Flag, a 501(c)(3) organization created to advance and accelerate the development and research of cutting-edge technologies for burn survivors, is one of the five beneficiaries of Carry the Load’s fundraising efforts this year.

“Too often, burn survivors and their caretakers face what seems, at the time, an impossible journey. Maybe, in some small way, this will help inspire those survivors with their journey, and encourage others to help us meet our financial goal to support their medical needs,” said Russ Spears, Sons of the Flag’s Vice President and Navy veteran.

Last year, according to the National Burn Association, more than 450,000 people in the United States suffered burns. Over 40,000 people were hospitalized for their injuries, with more than 30,000 requiring treatment at specialized burn hospitals.

Sasha Denman, Sons of the Flag’s civilian advocate, said, “As a burn survivor, I know firsthand the extreme need for new and improved methods to treat burn injuries. Sons of the Flag is playing a vital role in aiding and encouraging efforts that will lead to improved quality of life for burn survivors.”

To find out more information about the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation visit: SonsoftheFlag.org as well as Facebook.com/SonsoftheFlag. To donate to the “100 for 100” campaign visit: SonsoftheFlag.org/100-for-100.

–www.SonsoftheFlag.org.–

Press Release .pdf

* All funds we raise are going to go to Carry The Load

Sponsored by

“The victims of these tragedies, and their family and friends, are in our thoughts and prayers,” Sons of the Flag Executive Director and former US Navy SEAL Ryan Parrott said. “Those individuals who suffered burn injuries, but were fortunate enough to survive, face a long and arduous road to recovery and are the reason that Sons of the Flag exists.”

The Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization created to advance and accelerate the development and research of cutting-edge technologies for burn survivors. Since its inception, the organization has teamed up with experts from some of the most prominent burn centers in the nation, including the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, Mass.), Parkland Memorial Hospital (Dallas, Texas) and Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio, Texas), as well as internationally-renowned clinicians in the field of burn and trauma care.

“The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now these recent events involving explosions, have reminded us again that severe burns are a significant portion of the injuries received in mass casualty situations,” said Dr. Steven Wolf of UT Southwestern Medical Center, a member of the Sons of the Flag medical advisory board and the editor-in-chief of Burns, the journal of the International Society of Burn Injury. “These are often devastating both physically and mentally, and unfortunately research in these areas is woefully underfunded.”

Recently, there have been numerous technological advancements that have been proven to be effective methods for burn care. However, since those pioneering technologies are underfunded, they are unable to be fully utilized.

“We see some new treatments on the horizon that could greatly help our burn patients,” said Dr. Elof Eriksson, Chief of the Plastic Surgery Division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Eriksson also serves on the Sons of the Flag medical advisory board.

Last year, according to the National Burn Association, more than 450,000 people in the United States suffered burns. Over 40,000 people were hospitalized for their injuries, with more than 30,000 requiring treatment at specialized burn hospitals.

For information on the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation visit: www.SonsoftheFlag.org. To make a donation, visit: www.sonsoftheflag.org/donate-now.

Press Release .pdf

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield’s families during this tragic time.

Legacy Skydive Video

Watch the CBS footage with Greg Gumbal talking about Sons of The Flag during the kickoff to the Cowboys game vs. Cleveland on Sunday November 18th, 2012.  The coins Birdman jumped with were featured along with footage of our Legacy Skydive jump!

A United States veteran from each war, dating from World War II through present-day Afghanistan, as well as a former member of the FDNY, completed a tandem skydive from a WWII era plane with a member of the world-famous Army Golden Knights.

A special thank you to everyone who came out to support us, you made this event possible!

Gallery

Legacy Jump Stories and Press Releases

• Directions to Legacy Skydive NOV 17
• Sons of the Flag announces participants, official times for Legacy Skydive
• Sons of the Flag to host Legacy Skydive on Saturday, Nov. 17

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

By Meghan Frank and Neal Carter
Rock Center

Originally published: October 24, 2012.  Natalie Morales’ full report will air Thursday, November 15 at 10pm/9c on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams.

Lieutenant Sam Brown could not wait to experience combat.

“It’s an interesting thing, this desire to go to combat. It’s something that’s fantasized for people that have not experienced it,” Brown told NBC’s Natalie Morales in an interview airing Thursday on Rock Center with Brian Williams. “And so, I had a really strong desire to be a part of that. To me, that was a way to serve my country,” he said.

Born to a proud military family, Brown attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and trained to become a member of the elite Army Rangers 1st infantry division. In 2008, Brown deployed for his first tour of duty to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

But on the last day of his mission, a nearby platoon was ambushed. Lieutenant Brown sprang into action, leading his troops to the vicious firefight to provide backup.

“I led them to the combat. And then, that’s when we hit the IED.,” recalled Brown.

His Humvee ran over an improvised explosive device and exploded into a fireball. His body was engulfed in flames and Brown suffered third degree burns over 30% of his body. His injuries were so severe he was kept in a medically induced coma for the first few weeks to help him survive.

Remains of Lt. Sam Brown’s Humvee after running over IED

Brown was airlifted back to the United States and examined by Dr. Christopher Maani, an anesthesiologist in the burn unit of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

“With burn injury, that rehabilitative process can go on for weeks to months, sometimes even years if the burn is significant enough as it was in Sam’s case,” Dr. Maani said.

Lt. Brown endured more than two dozen painful surgeries, but the most excruciating pain came from the daily wound care and the physical therapy that followed.  The procedures were so unbearable that there were times when Brown’s superior officers would have to order him to undergo treatment.

Brown was deeply concerned about growing dependent on the addictive painkilling narcotics he needed to take. So, his doctor suggested something completely unexpected to relieve his pain: a video game.

“I was a little bit skeptical. But honestly, I was willing to try anything,” Brown admitted.

A video game may sound silly, but this particular game, SnowWorld, is a groundbreaking experiment in virtual reality. In SnowWorld, Brown could concentrate on throwing snowballs at penguins and mastodons to the music of Paul Simon, instead of focusing on the painful wound care happening at the same time.

Dr. Maani explained that SnowWorld uses the age old trick of distraction.

“It’s saying, ‘Hey, look over there,’ when you rip off your child’s band aid,” Dr. Maani said.

SnowWorld

The video game provides the distraction that overwhelms the senses and diverts the brain’s attention away from processing the pain signals.

The virtual reality of SnowWorld was dreamed up at the University of Washington by two psychologists, Dr. David Patterson and Dr. Hunter Hoffman.

Dr. Patterson had been working with burn patients and he explained that the treatment they have to undergo is excruciating and can feel more painful than getting the burn itself.

“With virtual reality distraction, you’re taking a painful procedure like scrubbing off a wound,” Patterson said. “You’re just taking the person and putting them in an alternate world. And it works for as long as people seem to be in the virtual world.”

Dr. Hoffman had been using virtual reality to help people confront their fear of spiders. But this time, instead of bringing his patients face to face with what they dreaded most, he’d do the opposite. The doctor decided to give them a soothing icy world to make them forget.

In 2011, the military conducted a small study using SnowWorld and got stunning results. For soldiers in the worst pain, SnowWorld worked better than morphine. And, with thousands of troops having suffered severe burns and trauma from IED blasts, the military is determined to find new ways to treat pain.

Dr. Hoffman is surprised when it comes to the therapy’s success.

“The fact that you’re getting such huge reductions in pain using something that’s not a drug is a paradigm shift,” he said.

For Sam Brown, SnowWorld was a Godsend. For the first time since his accident, he felt relief, without drugs.

“I really had very little sensation of pain, as I had previously experienced,” Brown said.

But it wasn’t just SnowWorld that helped Brown recover. He found something even more powerful to heal his pain.

When Lt. Brown was out of the hospital, his dietician Amy Larsen would call and check to make sure he was receiving his nutritional supplements.  One time when she called his old self came through.

“I asked if there was anything else that he needed. And he kind of started to joke around with me a little bit, and he said, ‘Can you send me some doughnuts too?’” Larsen laughed. “And then I could tell that Sam kind of wanted to talk a little bit more.”

Brown worked up the courage to ask Larsen out to a rodeo and the two began dating, but at times he couldn’t believe that what was happening was real. Brown had convinced himself that no one would ever be able to look beyond his physical scars.

One day a chaplain came to speak with Brown and reassured him he would find someone who would see past his wounds.

Brown said the chaplain told him “Someone will see beyond those scars, will fall in love with you, and you’ll have a beautiful family one day.”  Laughing in disbelief, Brown dismissed the chaplain’s words, but six months later the chaplain was officiating Larsen and Brown’s wedding.

Three years after the blast Brown and Larsen welcomed a son, Roman, into the world. Brown lives with very little pain now and he says he no longer needs the distraction of SnowWorld.

The combat soldier turned family man has a brighter outlook on the new life around him. Brown said with pride, “The world I have now with Amy, and Roman, and God willing, more children, is all I need.”

Lt. Sam Brown with his wife Amy and son Roman

Go to original story on rockcenter.nbcnews.com

Driving Time is estimated: 1.2 hrs from Cavanaugh Addison.

This starts from the George Bush.

1. George Bush west to I-35E north toward Denton
2.  I-35E north (34 miles) to Sanger FM-455/Chapman Rd (exit 478)TURN LEFT.
3. FM-455 west (10 miles). To Atcheson Rd TURN RIGHT
4. Atcheson Rd (1 mile) to Waide Rd. TURN RIGHT (Gravel Road)
5. Follow Waide Rd east then north for aprox 1.7 miles Look for black gates on the left They will be open.

There will be “SONS OF THE FLAG” Signs posted along the way to assist.

DALLAS (Nov. 14, 2012) – The Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation has officially announced its roster of dignitaries participating in Saturday’s historic Legacy Skydive. A United States veteran from each war, dating from World War II through present-day Afghanistan, as well as a former member of the FDNY, will tandem skydive from a WWII era plane with a member of the world-famous Army Golden Knights.

Representing World War II is 88-year-old Peter Bielskis, who served in the Eighth Air Force, 384th Bomb Group. Bielskis, who flew 27 missions as a ball turret gunner, has traveled from Detroit, Mich., to skydive for the first time.

Retired Army Maj. Richard “Dick” S. Agnew of Plano, Texas, will jump on behalf of Korean War veterans. For extraordinary heroism in duty, Agnew received the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest decoration for valor.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Dallas resident Tony Bandiera was a member of the U.S. Army. Bandiera is currently the owner of Sigel’s Elite.

Tom Buning, who is a Senior Associate Athletics Director at SMU, served three overseas tours with the Army, including in Desert Storm. A highly decorated combat veteran, Buning has been awarded the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.

Commander Mark Waddell, representing the War in Afghanistan, retired from the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams after 25 years of extensive military special operations experience. He was decorated for heroism, combat valor, merit and achievement.

Ryan “Birdman” Parrott (Iraq War) served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, completing multiple combat tours to Iraq and several other deployments around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Sons of the Flag.

The inspiration behind the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation, Ret. Capt. Sam Brown, is a USMA ‘06 graduate and former U.S. Army Ranger. He spent five years in the Army, earning numerous honors, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

John Walters is a retired New York City firefighter, spending 14 years with the FDNY. Walters lost his entire squad in 9/11, spent 28 days in the FDNY burn center in 2002, and lost his leg in July of 2006 while working in Manhattan.

The planes will depart from Addison Airport at 11:30 a.m., and the participating veterans will be available to talk with interested media and public beginning at 9 a.m. at the airport’s Cavanaugh Flight Museum. The drop zone will be the Akroville Airport in Decatur, Texas, with landings sometime after noon.

Accompanying the skydive team will be a ceremonial coin that Parrott and Brown will deliver to officials for the coin toss at the Dallas Cowboys Veterans’ Day Appreciation Game against the Cleveland Browns the next day (Nov. 18). The group will also fly with an American flag. Cowboys’ cheerleaders will be on hand for the touchdowns in Decatur on Saturday.

The Sons of the Flag Legacy Skydive event is the official launch of the 501(c)3 organization Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation, which was created to advance and accelerate the development and research of cutting edge technologies for burn survivors. For more information, visit www.SonsoftheFlag.org or Facebook.com/SonsoftheFlag.

–www.SonsoftheFlag.org–

About the Skydivers

Richard “Dick” Agnew (Korean War)

Retired Army Maj. Richard “Dick” S. Agnew is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest decoration for valor. Agnew, who lives in Plano, Texas, received his Distinguished Service Cross in July of 1953 for his extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Mundung-ni, Korea. Agnew, now retired from the military and civilian employment, is the Commander of the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Legion of Valor, a veteran’s organization for recipients of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross.

Tony Bandiera (Vietnam War)

Tony Bandiera served in Vietnam for the U.S. Army. He currently is the owner of Sigel’s Elite in Dallas. More information on Bandiera to come.

Peter Bielskis (World War II)

Peter Bielskis served in the Eighth Air Force (8 AF), 384th Bomb Group in World War II. The Eighth Air Force was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft and equipment. Stationed in England, Bielskis flew a remarkable 27 missions as a ball turret gunner. He served overseas beginning in January of 1945 through the end of the war. Bielskis, who lives in Detroit, Mich., will be skydiving for the first time at the age of 88.

Sam Brown (Afghanistan War)

The inspiration behind the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation, Ret. Capt. Sam Brown was commissioned in the Army in March of 2006 after graduating from West Point. In September of 2008, Brown was struck by an improvised explosive device (IEC) in Kandahar, Afghanistan and suffered third degree burns to 30 percent of his body and lost his left index finger in the accident. Brown spent five years in the Army and has been awarded the following: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Accommodation Medal with “Valor” Device, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, Airborne Badge and Ranger Tab.

Tom Buning (Desert Storm/Gulf War)

During a 24-year Army career in the Corps of Engineers, Tom Buning served three overseas tours and is a decorated combat veteran. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and three Meritorious Service Medals, as well as the Bronze Order of the deFleury Medal from the U.S. Army Engineer Association. He currently serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities, Operations & Capital Projects at SMU. Buning is a 1981 West Point graduate and earned master’s degrees from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and the SMU Cox School of Business in 2011.

Ryan “Birdman” Parrott (Iraq War)

Ryan “Birdman” Parrott served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, completing multiple combat
tours to Iraq and several other deployments around the world. In 2005, Parrott was riding
atop a Humvee manning the gun turret in enemy territory when his vehicle was hit by an
improvised explosive device (IED). Though thrown from the Humvee and burned himself
in the flash fire, Parrott rendered live-saving aid and medicine to his fellow team members. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation.

Mark Waddell (Afghanistan War)

Commander Mark D. Waddell retired as a Mustang Officer in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams after 25 years of extensive military special operations experience. He was decorated for heroism, combat valor, merit and
achievement. Waddell led and directed special operations in the Global War on Terrorism during the most demanding period in Naval Special Warfare’s history. He planned and provided operational and logistical oversight for classified missions in politically sensitive regions – working in or with
96 nations on six continents to complete arduous classified assignments while managing multi-million dollar personnel and training budgets. Waddell is a retired 100% service-disabled combat veteran.

John Walters (FDNY)

John Walters is a retired New York City Firefighter and Ex-Chief of the Port Washington Volunteer Fire Department on Long Island. John spent 14 years with the FDNY, beginning in 1996 with Engine 237 in Brooklyn. He worked and trained to become one of the first firefighters asked to be a
member of Squad 288 in Queens and ended his career in Rescue 1 in Manhattan. John has seen tragedy: he lost his entire squad in 9/11, worked Ground Zero for six months, spent 28 days in the FDNY burn center after being burned, and lost his leg in July of 2006 while working in Manhattan which forced him to retire.

View Full .pdf HERE

Sons of the Flag to host Legacy Skydive on Saturday, Nov. 17

U.S. veterans from World War II through present day to participate

DALLAS (Nov. 5, 2012) - The Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation will be hosting an unprecedented Legacy Skydive on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Addison Airport in north Dallas. A United States veteran from each war, dating from World War II through present-day Afghanistan, will tandem skydive from a WWII era plane with a member of the world-famous Army Golden Knights.

Among the veterans participating in the skydive, two will represent the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation — Executive Director Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, and Sam Brown, USMA ‘06 graduate and former U.S. Army Ranger. Information on the other skydivers, which includes local dignitaries, will be released at a later date.

The Sons of the Flag Legacy Skydive event is the official launch of the 501(c)(3) organization Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation, which was created to advance and accelerate the development and research of cutting edge technologies for burn survivors.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to do the Legacy Skydive,” Sons of the Flag President Ryan Hyman said.  “It truly is an unmatched endeavor that will help raise awareness for our organization both locally and nationally. Each one of our veterans is an American hero, and we are honored to be associated with them.”

The planes are scheduled to take off from Addison Airport between 10:30 and 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The participating veterans will be available to talk with interested media and public beginning at 9 a.m. at the airport’s Cavanaugh Flight Museum.

The following day, Sunday, Nov. 18, Parrott and Brown will deliver the ceremonial coin for the coin toss at the Dallas Cowboys Veterans’ Day Appreciation Game against the Cleveland Browns. In addition, the Cowboys’ organization will recognize the Sons of the Flag at the game by showing video highlights of the skydive on the Jumbotron prior to the coin toss.

To arrange pre-event interviews with the participants, or to attend the Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation’s Legacy Skydive, please contact Drew Harris at (254) 716-8573 or drew@firstpitchpr.com.

–www.SonsoftheFlag.org–

About Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation
Sons of the Flag is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting military, first responder, and civilian burn survivors by providing funding for innovative research. We bring together passionate community leaders, pioneering physicians, experienced military service members, dedicated first responders and purposeful civilians to advance the development and research of cutting-edge technology for burn survivors. For more information about Sons of the Flag Burn Foundation, please visit http://www.sonsoftheflag.org/ or www.facebook.com/sonsoftheflag

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Listen to the Interview Here!