HOTH Events

GREAT ICS Chili Cook Off Benefit for Greg Caron

January 29, 2012 By ccasey

From our own Ride Captain – Michael Freedman

What a day yesterday huh kids? All of the ICS cooks coming together to help a great young man, Greg Caron. Over $8,000 was raised in 4 short hours. So many stories to tell from that short time period. I never wanted the focus to be on Kat or I….it was all about Greg Caron and all of our wonderful cooks and judges. What an absolutely beautiful day for everyone. Not one person didn’t have a smile on their face..all day! Thanks to all of you for all of your help and support. I hope we did Greg and the ICS proud.

For one really incredible day, ICS cooks came together to help an injured Marine that needed our special brand of help. We had a few ICS World Champs cooking ,5 rookies, and a total of 32 cooks from 8 different states. Kat and I never wanted any of the focus to be on us for setting up this event in under 8 weeks.

The focus was certainly on Greg Caron, a Marine that was wounded on 11-11 and is now learning to walk again on “new” legs. The focus was also on every one of the 32 cooks and their efforts for Greg. There were a few glitches here and there, however, I don’t think anyone noticed except me.

Mike and Mary Alice Kropp should be commended for all of their hard work in the tightly run judging area. I only went in the judging area once at the judges meeting to thank the judges I had recruited. They should all be proud of their hard work as well.

A few noticeable items for you. We were joined by Gary and Doreen Caron, Greg’s parents and his twin brother Jon. They were blown away by the dedication of the ICS cooks. They said that everyone they spoke with was so friendly and giving. I personally met so many military folks.They were thrilled that our community came together to help Greg.

We had well over 1,000 people attend an indoors event. One man came up to me at one point and said,” I don’t any special recognition”. He handed me a wad of bills then left. I opened it…and found 10 $100 bills and would have fainted if not for the support of one of our really big Air Force friends. For me…one of the most special moments was when my son-in-law placed 3rd in Verde…I don’t know who was more surprised, he or I. I guess he listened to the old man after all.

Greg Caron Regional Chili Cook Off OFFICIAL results:

Salsa
3rd Steve Stark MA
2nd Roxanne Ballachino CT
1st and representing the Greg Caron Regional Chili Cook Off at the 2012 WCCC Linda McGrath CT

Verde
3rd Michael Scheidel Rookie cook CT
2nd Dean Harvery MA
1st and reperesenting the Greg Caron Regional Chili Cook Off at the 2012 WCCC Scott Navaroli from MA

Red
3rd Ghon Eckely VA
2nd Vicki Tankis MA
1st and representing the Greg Caron Regional Chili Cook Off at the WCCC Marc Frechette CT

All of the cooks donated their winnings back to the Greg Caron Family Foundation.

Thanks to Mike and Mary Alice Kropp for all of their help as chief judge and score keeper.

Lastly, sincere thanks to all of the cooks that made this special day possible. Thank you to the Connecticut Patriot Guard for all their attendance and support. Proud to be a part of such a wonderful group of people.

Photogallery: http://tinyurl.com/Caron-Chili-Cook-Off

Filed Under: Events, HOTH Events, News Tagged With: Events, HOTH Events, News

Special Mission: Sat 01/28/2012; 10 AM

January 22, 2012 By ccasey

***Special Mission*** SFC Green Beret Mark Holbert, US Army, Danbury, CT. SAT JAN 28th, 10 AM

Note: This special mission is one of two on Sat the 28^th with this one in Danbury and the other in Somers.

Patriot Guard and associates,

We are very excited to be once again be participating in a very special event for a real Hero sponsored by “Help our Military Heroes” in this 7^th annual spinathon fund raiser.

This years celebrated Hero is Green Beret SFC Mark Holbert, US Army, who lost both his legs and a finger.

We will provide an escort from the hotel to the Sports club and stand a flag line at the club as people enter.

SC Gregg Barratt will lead the escort and ASC Jeff Hartke will be RCIC and have flags on site.

Note: Any full flag wishing to be part of this LEO led escort, please contact me at: Greggbarratt@gmail.com

Escort Stage
0900hrs
Sat Jan 28th
Hilton Garden Inn
119 Mill Plain Road
Danbury, CT

Final Staging
0900hrs-Note, please park across the street from the sports club
Sat Sep 28^thNew York Sports Club
38 Mill Plain Road
Danbury, CT

God Bless America and Our Troops!

Regards,

Gregg “Flag 7″ Barratt
Patriot Guard Riders
Connecticut State Captain
greggbarratt@gmail.com
203-921-8255

Filed Under: HOTH Events, Mission Archives Tagged With: Current Missions, HOTH Events, News

Special Mission: Sat 01/28/2012; 11 AM

January 22, 2012 By ccasey

***Special Mission*** Cpl. Greg Caron, USMC, Somers, CT. SAT JAN 28th, 11 AM

Note: This special mission is one of two on Sat the 28^th with this one in Somers and the other in Danbury.

Patriot Guard and associates,

We are very excited to be participating in a very special event for a real Hero sponsored by the International Chili Society Cook Off.

Ellington resident Cpl. Greg Caron, who was wounded in an explosion on Nov. 11 in Afghanistan. Cpl. Caron, 25, was severely injured by an improvised explosive device, resulting in the loss of his legs and a finger. Cpl Caron continues to make great progress during his physical therapy in MD.his legs and a finger. He continues to recover in Bethesda, MD, following multiple surgeries.

On January 28th, there will be a very special fund raising event for a CT hero, Marine Greg Caron from Ellington.

This will be an outstanding event with terrific food and an opportunity to show our support for a local hero. Of note, the event will be from 1100-1600hrs and members are encouraged to stay and enjoy the event after our initial flag line.

We will stand a flag line as people enter the event. RCIC Jack Casey will be RC and flags on site courtesy of Don Camden. Of note, our own RC Madmike Freedman is at the helm of leading this overall event.

Final Staging:
1100 (staging)
Sat Jan 28^thPleasant View Golf Area
452 South Rd./Rt 83
Somers, CT

God Bless America and Our Troops!

Regards,

Gregg “Flag 7″ Barratt
Patriot Guard Riders
Connecticut State Captain
greggbarratt@gmail.com
203-921-8255

Filed Under: HOTH Events, Mission Archives Tagged With: Current Missions, HOTH Events, News

The 1st Annual International Chili Society Greg Caron Chili Cook Off

January 15, 2012 By ccasey

Show your support for a Connecticut Marine!

The 1st Annual International Chili Society Greg Caron Chili Cook Off

1/28/2012, 11 AM to 4 PM

Pleasant View Cafe & Golf Center

463 South Road (Rt 83)

Somers, CT

Admission $5

for more information please contact:

madmike@chilict.com

On 11-11-11 Cpl Greg Caron of Ellington, CT stepped on an explosive device in Afganistan. He suffered the loss of both of his legs, his trigger finger, shrapnel to the right side of his body and a broken collarbone.

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