MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT NAMED 2012 THUNDERNATOR
2011-11-10Sgt Dakota Meyer, the United States Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor in Sept, 2011, will serve as "Thundernator" of the 2012 Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show, the Kentucky Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies. At approximately 9:29 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, Sgt Meyer will provide the Thunder countdown and "zero" ignition to activate the Thunder launch system sequence in the Command Center at the Galt House Hotel. Sgt Meyer, a native of Columbia, Ky., will also be involved in other Kentucky Derby Festival activities next year.
Sgt Meyer's appearance at Thunder Over Louisville is tied to his partnership with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to raise $1 million by the Foundation's 50th anniversary on May 28, 2012. He has also issued a "Challenge to America" to match his efforts and raise an additional $1 million to "Honor Marines by Educating Their Children." This challenge allows Americans to help wounded Marines from all conflicts, especially in the past 10 years. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest need-based scholarship organization supporting U.S. military families. Since 1962, the Foundation has provided over 27,000 scholarships valued at more than $67 million, including $5 million to more than 1,600 students for the 2011-2012 academic year.
"As a native Kentuckian, I am humbled to be working with the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation as they honor the service, our military members and their families. This scholarship initiative allows our entire community to support military families. The donations we raise will provide much needed scholarships for children of Marines," said Sgt Meyer.
President Obama awarded Sgt Meyer the Medal of Honor in recognition of his acts of extraordinary valor on Sept 8, 2009, which saved the lives of 13 U.S. Marines and soldiers and 23 Afghans. Over the course of a six-hour firefight, without regard for his own personal safety, Sgt Meyer repeatedly braved enemy fire in eastern Afghanistan attempting to find and save fellow members of his embedded training team. He is the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan or Iraq.
"We are extremely honored to have Sgt Dakota Meyer as the 2012 Thundernator and to take part in the Kentucky Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies," said Mike Berry, President and CEO of the Kentucky Derby Festival. "Sgt Meyer is a true American hero and we're thrilled that he will be part of our festivities. Next year's Thunder Over Louisville show will feature a patriotic theme and we couldn't imagine a more fitting person to kick off the fireworks finale. We're encouraging Thunder fans to wear red, white and blue to the waterfront to show their support."
The Kentucky Derby Festival is donating up to $5,000 in proceeds from the sale of its 2012 Christopher Radko holiday ornament to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Public donations to the "Challenge to America" can be made online at www.dakotameyer.com or text "DAKOTA" to 50555 to donate $10.
