Benefit Held to Support Wounded Troops

TYLER — East Texans supported their local veterans at the Country For Our Country benefit concert. The annual event supports the East Texas non-profit, which gives wounded warriors the tools they need to rebuild their lives. It’s the third annual fundraising event for the local nonprofit, which was held at Villa di Felicita in Tyler, sponsored by Tyler Ford. Performances included Chase and The New South, Derek Sholl and Sara Evans. The event raised an estimated $100,000.

KETK spoke with native East Texan, Andy Burnett, 25, who serves on the Country For Our Country committee. Burnett is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was shot by a stray bullet at the end of his deployment last year. The hit paralyzed him from the chest down. Burnett is thankful for what this organization has done for him since returning home. “It accomplishes a valuable mission,” Burnett said. “And a lot of people see me, and so it kind of puts a face on what they’re trying to do. If that’s my role to play, I’m happy to play it. And I’ve enjoyed it.”

For more on how you can give back to Country For Our Country, visit http://www.countryforourcountry.org/.