Throughout the year, KIA (Killed In Action) Memorial Road March organizer Jason Jaskula posted videos on Facebook to promote their yearly events and recruit volunteers that all lead up to the year’s biggest food drive that takes place this year at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park on Saturday, Aug. 19. And on March 4, KIA Memorial Road March will be the beneficiary of the 716 EmPOURium Whiskey, Wine, and Spirits Tasting Event at Michaels Banquets, 4885 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, from 6 to 9 p.m., with special VIP access from 5 to 6 p.m.
This annual event features many local and nationally known distilleries, wine and spirit makers that want to offer a taste of their products to guests with the ability to sell directly to consumers if they wish. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.kiamemorialmarch.com/events/.
Most of the Facebook videos were meant to provide potential guests with a list of the growing vendors and participants offering their products of wine, whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, rums and more.
Now that the event is only days away, Jaskula is producing Facebook videos with a much higher sense of urgency since this event is not yet sold out, considering this fundraiser supports the Road March in August that ultimately helps many veterans and their families.
“At this time last year, we were almost sold out for this incredibly worthwhile cause. This year we are at about half that number with only days to go to the event. The economy is in bad shape. People are hurting. We wholeheartedly understand. So this year, those that bought tickets and those that plan to buy tickets can now bring a friend provided that friend/guest brings and donates a $25 gift card to be donated to KIA. Now, essentially, the event is buy-one-get-one-half-off, which is even more reason to come out and support struggling veterans that need it most,” said Jaskula.
The purpose of the K.I.A. Memorial Road March is twofold, honoring the memory of the 331 military members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11 as well as police and fire line-of-duty deaths in New York State.
It also supports numerous veterans’ groups, including the Gold Star Mothers Food Pantry, VALOR Vietnam Veterans Food Pantry in Tonawanda, and Resurrection Life Food Pantry in West Seneca. Typically, 25,000 pounds of food is collected at each Road March.
“We know times are hard and everything is expensive, but it is for a good cause,” said Jaskula in one of his Facebook videos encouraging people to register for the KIA Memorial Road March.
While defending freedom around the world as a sergeant in the United States Army, Jaskula’s close friend and Buffalo firefighter Chris Dill was killed in action on April 4, 2005. Dill’s death was the impetus for Jaskula to start the very first KIA Memorial March 10 years ago on Nov. 23, 2012.
Jaskula walked more than 13-miles, more than a half-marathon, carrying 60 pounds of rocks in a rucksack. It took him more than three hours to finish and he raised $4,000 for veterans’ causes.
Ten years later, the charity march takes place at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park. Instead of rocks, participants are asked to march in the park with rucksacks filled with 30 pounds of donated food. Registration is open to everyone, and folks can register individuality or as a team.
“I try to use every tool in the rucksack that I can to promote this incredibly important event, including videos on Facebook. There is a sense of urgency this week, especially. We greatly appreciate anyone helping us spread the good word to encourage registrations. We need it. All families are struggling in this very difficult economy. Everyone is in bad shape paying more for everything, including gas and groceries, and many veterans are in the same boat. The KIA Memorial March hosts many events and family friendly events that will definitely help those veterans in need,” concluded Jaskula.
