Americans Honoring Americans

This is a non-profit foundation started April 1, 2008 by Jacqueline Sullivan. Jackie received an e-mail from a friend in South Carolina telling her about a veteran in Texas who had lost half of his face in a sniper attack in Iraq. After returning home he began reconstruction surgery. The one thing that kept him going was his love for Nascar. She and several employees had tried to get him to a race or to just have a driver sign a card for him. After being unsuccessful, she thought of Jackie who was employed with Dover International Speedway for the last fifteen years.

Jackie didn't hesitate. She called her friend and told her to "Consider it done." In April, Jackie made contacts with Busch series racing teams. In September, she went to the Richmond race and finalized paperwork for the Texas race. By October, Jackie was calling the veteran and inviting him and his family to the race saying that she had some extra tickets and understood he wanted to see a race. He was really excited.

It was finally the night before the race. Jackie invited the veteran and his family to her hotel room to meet her and some friends of hers before the race the next day. The friends were employees of the race team that sponsored him and his family to go to the race. The driver of the team entered the room and asked the veteran to be his honorary crew chief for the day. There was a sudden silence and then the tears fell. The picture of this is priceless. But this was only the beginning for him.

The next day before the race, they did a parade lap around the track in the back of a truck. His name was placed on the car and was registered for the race in his name as the owner and he sat in the pit box and had radio communication with the driver during the race. That day many people came up to him and thanked him for serving his country and welcomed him home. He now has over 200 pictures with many team members and Busch officials.

All the employees in the racing series really enjoyed being able to talk with him, have their pictures taken with him and present him with merchandise. But most of all, it gave them the opportunity to "step up to the plate" and say thank you and show their support and appreciation. Tears flowed freely and heads bowed to be able to give back to one who sacrificed so much for all.

The veteran's wife has since called to thank us and say the memories of that day and just knowing that so many people truly cared has given him the strength and courage to carry on through the pain and continued reconstruction surgeries.

This was a great way for the racing team to pay homage to a hero with love for Nascar.

And so it continues. Jackie has managed to take four more heroes to a Nascar race. But we need help. The cost of taking individuals to a race can be very costly to a team, thus the forming of this non-profit foundation.

Won't you "step up to the plate," to honor and pay tribute to those who have given so much in service to us and our country.

This non-profit foundation has been incorporated in the State of Delaware. Please feel free to contact the foundation with any questions.

Jackie Sullivan, President

302.359.1928

Americans Honoring Americans

3422 Bayside Drive

Dover, DE 19901