Meeting the needs of injured soldiers—one hero at a time
By Judy Reed
Former Cedar Springs resident Tony Covell has a passion for injured veterans. That should come as no surprise, since he is
one himself.
Tony served in Iraq from December 2003 to September 2004, when the Humvee he was in was hit by an IED. He was badly
burned over 63 percent of his body and sent home to recover.
He later learned that he would not be able to continue to serve. “When I later found out that I was to be medically retired, my
wife Tasha asked me what I wanted to do. But all I could think of was myself—I was a little selfish,” he recalled. “But then I got
the chance to go hunting again, and it helped to motivate me—both with physical rehabilitation and mentally, as well. I
decided that other guys deserved this opportunity, too,” he explained.
Tony talked to Tasha, and together they started the Injured Soldiers Foundation (www.injuredsoldiers.org). Since its inception
in May of 2005, the foundation has treated 347 injured or disabled soldiers and their families to special outings. It could be a
week-long hunting trip, a one-day charter fishing trip, a trip to a baseball game or race rally. Ted Myer was one of the soldiers
helped by the Injured Soldiers foundation. “It was a great experience to be able to go on the big lake and be part of a fishing
tournament…The Injured Soldier organization has been a great uplift in life. I thought that I was going to have to stop doing
some of the activities that I enjoyed before I got injured, but Tony and the Injured Soldier organization has helped me
maintain those hobbies and activities,” he wrote.
Ted’s comments get to the heart of the mission of what the foundation is all about. “Our mission is to help the people who
have given so much on our behalf to overcome these obstacles and resume a productive and fulfilling life through programs
that help them get back into their personal hobbies,” explained Tony.
Some events have included Lake Michigan Salmon fishing, an MSU football game, a motorcyle rally, Off Road poker runs,
hunts in various states, and even a hunt in South Africa.
All the foundation’s activities are funded through donations and fundraising on the part of the organization and other
volunteers.
By next year, Tony said they’d like to be able to purchase a ranch here in Michigan where the soldiers and their families can go
to hunt, fish, snowmobile, and other events, or just to relax and be pampered. He thinks it’s important that the whole family is
included. “We find that when veterans get together, they tend to talk more about their experiences, and when the families are
there and they hear it, they understand a little better what they went through,” he explained.
Tony estimates that the ranch will cost about $5.5 million, and they are a long way from that goal. “It will need to be
completely remodeled to be handicap accessible,” he said.
He said he understands it will be tough to get the money because economic times are hard in Michigan. “People say that they
can’t give $1,000. But if they could give $1.00, and ask everyone they know to give $1.00, a little ends up equaling a lot.”
He noted that these veterans don’t expect anything back from the public. “They did their job, they were loyal to their country
and they don’t ask for anything in return. But we owe it to them to help them,” he said.
The community has several ways they can help this worthwhile organization. You can go to their website, www.
injuredsoldiers.org, and buy merchandise, or hold your own fundraiser to benefit the organization. Another way to help fund
them is by giving them your old printer cartridges, computers, laptop computers, and other recyclable materials. “We get 25-
35 cents for each printer cartridge,” explained Tony. Anyone wishing to donate can drop them off to Laura at Terry’s Used
Cars, 4795 Cornfield Drive, just off Northland Drive, next to Lazer Skate. If you have questions, contact Tony at 231-362-2693
or his cell at 616-406-7073. For donations call 231-263-2696, or send an email to info@injuredsoldiers.org.
By Judy Reed
Former Cedar Springs resident Tony Covell has a passion for injured veterans. That should come as no surprise, since he is
one himself.
Tony served in Iraq from December 2003 to September 2004, when the Humvee he was in was hit by an IED. He was badly
burned over 63 percent of his body and sent home to recover.
He later learned that he would not be able to continue to serve. “When I later found out that I was to be medically retired, my
wife Tasha asked me what I wanted to do. But all I could think of was myself—I was a little selfish,” he recalled. “But then I got
the chance to go hunting again, and it helped to motivate me—both with physical rehabilitation and mentally, as well. I
decided that other guys deserved this opportunity, too,” he explained.
Tony talked to Tasha, and together they started the Injured Soldiers Foundation (www.injuredsoldiers.org). Since its inception
in May of 2005, the foundation has treated 347 injured or disabled soldiers and their families to special outings. It could be a
week-long hunting trip, a one-day charter fishing trip, a trip to a baseball game or race rally. Ted Myer was one of the soldiers
helped by the Injured Soldiers foundation. “It was a great experience to be able to go on the big lake and be part of a fishing
tournament…The Injured Soldier organization has been a great uplift in life. I thought that I was going to have to stop doing
some of the activities that I enjoyed before I got injured, but Tony and the Injured Soldier organization has helped me
maintain those hobbies and activities,” he wrote.
Ted’s comments get to the heart of the mission of what the foundation is all about. “Our mission is to help the people who
have given so much on our behalf to overcome these obstacles and resume a productive and fulfilling life through programs
that help them get back into their personal hobbies,” explained Tony.
Some events have included Lake Michigan Salmon fishing, an MSU football game, a motorcyle rally, Off Road poker runs,
hunts in various states, and even a hunt in South Africa.
All the foundation’s activities are funded through donations and fundraising on the part of the organization and other
volunteers.
By next year, Tony said they’d like to be able to purchase a ranch here in Michigan where the soldiers and their families can go
to hunt, fish, snowmobile, and other events, or just to relax and be pampered. He thinks it’s important that the whole family is
included. “We find that when veterans get together, they tend to talk more about their experiences, and when the families are
there and they hear it, they understand a little better what they went through,” he explained.
Tony estimates that the ranch will cost about $5.5 million, and they are a long way from that goal. “It will need to be
completely remodeled to be handicap accessible,” he said.
He said he understands it will be tough to get the money because economic times are hard in Michigan. “People say that they
can’t give $1,000. But if they could give $1.00, and ask everyone they know to give $1.00, a little ends up equaling a lot.”
He noted that these veterans don’t expect anything back from the public. “They did their job, they were loyal to their country
and they don’t ask for anything in return. But we owe it to them to help them,” he said.
The community has several ways they can help this worthwhile organization. You can go to their website, www.
injuredsoldiers.org, and buy merchandise, or hold your own fundraiser to benefit the organization. Another way to help fund
them is by giving them your old printer cartridges, computers, laptop computers, and other recyclable materials. “We get 25-
35 cents for each printer cartridge,” explained Tony. Anyone wishing to donate can drop them off to Laura at Terry’s Used
Cars, 4795 Cornfield Drive, just off Northland Drive, next to Lazer Skate. If you have questions, contact Tony at 231-362-2693
or his cell at 616-406-7073. For donations call 231-263-2696, or send an email to info@injuredsoldiers.org.
| INJURED SOLDIERS FOUNDATION |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| "Taking Care of Our Own" |
| Operation Injured Soldiers Foundation | 22645 Pontiac Trail | South Lyon, MI 48178 | 734-564-7970 | Cell: 616-406-7073 Home |Privacy Policy |Contact Us |info@injuredsoldiers.org Copyright © 2005, TLC Photography. The Operation Injured Soldiers Logo and all images are copyrighted and cannot be copied or reproduced without written permission. |