MONTGOMERY, AL -
A
fundraiser started by Squadron Officer School students at Maxwell Air Force
Base is set to raise thousands of dollars for the family of a U.S. Air Force
F-16 pilot killed in a Jan. 28 crash near Italy.
Maj.
Lucas "Gaza" Gruenther, who was stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, died in a
training mission over the Adriatic Sea. He leaves behind his wife, Cassy, and
daughter, Serene – born just days after her father died.
In
a bid to bolster Serene's future, the students – Air Force captains at Maxwell
for an eight-week course – reached out in their spare time to area businesses
to pitch the idea of a pub crawl benefitting the family.
"The
crash happened at the beginning of our fourth week here at Maxwell," said Devin
Ivy, who spearheaded the effort. "When we heard about it, we thought of how we
could help from afar, as a class."
Restaurant
and bar owners hope to help make the event a success by offering deals to participating
patrons.
Until close of business tonight (Friday 2/22), a $10 wristband commemorating Maj.
Gruenther entitles the wearer to special discounts and freebies across select
establishments in and around The Alley.
The
general public can purchase wristbands at AviatorBar, 166 Commerce St., near
The Alley.
Discounts
include:
- Free appetizers from Midtown Pizza Kitchen and $2.50 Yuengling at
AviatorBar
- Free cover at AlleyBar
- Half-price pizza, well drinks and domestic beer at SA ZA
- $3.50 pints and appetizer specials at Railyard Brewing Co.
- $2.50 pints of sweetwater and appetizer specials at Dreamland BBQ
- $1.99 margaritas and draft beer at Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant
Students
at Maxwell – some of whom knew Gruenther – have already bought hundreds of the
wristbands. Among those who plan to attend: a fellow F-16 pilot from a sister
squadron at Aviano, Capt. Jason Kiggins.
"We'd
like to invite the River Region out to toast our fallen brother and a great Airman,"
Kiggins said.
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