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The Sunday afternoon benefit to help the family of Kevin Wear, a Navarro County soldier who was badly injured in Iraq, has more than a touch of star power even if the guest of honor can’t make it.
Wear is in San Antonio going through rehab, although he’s making progress, he said in a telephone interview Friday.
“I really wanted to make my way there (to Corsicana) because I really want to thank the people who have been sending cards and prayers. I bought a packet of ‘thank you’ notes and I’ve gone through about 50 of them. I just makes me smile every time I get a funny little card or something. It’s just awesome. I have a lot more friends than I knew.”
Wear and his wife, Leah, are living in San Antonio while he undergoes rehab. Their five children are still in Kansas, where he was last stationed. Her mother is caring for them while they go to school. Wear said he’s eager to be reunited with the rest of his family, although whether they’ll come to Texas or he’ll go back to Kansas is unclear now. Meanwhile, it’s formations everyday except weekends, and rehab and doctors appointments in between.
“We’re real busy everyday, but we’re really grateful he’s getting the treatment he’s getting,” said Leah Wear.
The benefit may help his family relocate, or could be used to find them a home if Wear is discharged from the Army, he said.
“If that’s the case, I want to go to school so I can get a good job,” Wear said. “My main concern is my wife and kids.”
The benefit will start at 1 p.m. at the IOOF Events Center with a barbecue lunch featuring brisket and all the trimmings, as well as entertainment by the Groovetones and MeeMaw’s Misfits. Admission is $15 for individuals, $25 for a couple. Children under 5 are admitted free, those 6 to 11 cost $5, and teenagers from 11 to 17 cost $10. Veterans and current service members are admitted free, as well.
A silent auction will take place until 4 p.m. and includes a barbecue gas grill, printer, tools and gift certificates for a wide range of services and prizes, said Vicky Prater, who’s helping to organize the effort for Wear. A bake sale will take place in conjunction with the events throughout the day.
At 3:30 p.m., a live auction will bring the star power. Among the items going under the hammer is a guitar signed by county music star Toby Keith. Corsicana’s own Terry Fator contributed a gift basket of goodies from Las Vegas for the auction, and local attorney Glenn Sodd contributed a private trophy hunt at his compound near Trinidad.
“We also have some handmade quilts and an assortment of other great things,” Prater said.
The lunch service will end at 3 p.m., and after that people can bring in coolers for $10 per cooler. There won’t be any set-ups, though, so people need to bring their own ice and mixers. The expanded Groovetones will return following the live auction to finish out the evening with dancing and entertainment.
Outside the events center, the Shakers and Scrapers will host a fall car show, with the proceeds going to the Wears.
Kevin Wear won’t be able to make the benefit, but he’s impressed with the effort the dozens of volunteers and donors have made on his behalf, and on behalf of his family.
“I saw the Toby Keith guitar and I thought ‘that is so awesome,’ ” Wear said. “I couldn’t believe it. That somebody would do something like that for me.”
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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jjacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “sound off” to this article? E-mail: Soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
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