Hello all,

I am starting a fundraiser for The DeMatteo Project. The founder Rich Lee retired as a first sergeant in the United States Army serving 27 years. Rich has struggled with a lot of hardships throughout the years, due to serving in a time of war. His son Josh also served in the Army (Rich and Josh are in the picture of this post). Josh served while in the Army in Afghanistan.

I personally served two tours in Iraq as a part of the Marine Corps infantry from 2007 to 2009. 1st Sergeant Rich Lee has spent the last 18 months investing his own money to create a non profit organization to help veterans affected by the war on terror and first responders. With hopes to bring them together on a gold claim that he bought in Idaho to come and learn to pan, prospect for gold, and be in company with others who have served. Rich provides sleeping arrangements, food and all the equipment for the veterans to pan for gold and keep the gold they find.

I visited the gold claim this year in Idaho and found it very therapeutic to talk to other veterans around a camp fire about my time in the war. It has been difficult to talk to even the closest members of my family about it. But Rich is giving veterans a way to express themselves to other veterans that can really understand what they have been through all while giving them a fun and possibly lucrative past time. Rich has invested almost forty thousand dollars for the first season of his gold prospecting mission and many veterans have shown interest in traveling to Idaho to enjoy it. This year Rich had fourteen veterans on the books but as gas prices rose only two veterans were financially able to make it out to the gold claim.

So to get to the point we would like to raise money to provide gas or airfare so the veterans and first responders do not have to worry about money, lodging, or food. They will be able to come pan and dig for gold and spend time with some of the men and women that can truly understand the hardships and trials that veterans must live through. All proceeds will support The DeMatteo Project.