Teamsters Joint Council 73 Helps Wounded Veterans

Teamsters Joint Council 73 in Northern New Jersey and its local unions teamed up recently with New Jersey State Troopers to provide a relaxing getaway and activities for soldiers who were severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Teamsters and troopers joined forces September 25-27 to help the Wounded Warrior Project and the New Jersey, National Guard in Sea Girt, New Jersey, to provide boating, fishing, BBQ, peer mentoring, benefit counseling and bonding between warriors who are currently healing and warriors who have been discharged from military service due to their combat injures.

“I want to thank the dozens of Teamsters who raised nearly $1,100 and others who donated their time and energy for such a great event,” said Anthony Artificio, President of Joint Council 73 in Springfield, New Jersey. “When it comes to supporting our veterans, Joint Council 73 will always be there to help, and this event illustrated that commitment.”

The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. About two dozen warriors traveled from Walter Reed Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C. and from Fort Drum Warrior Transition Unit in New York.

One of the warriors attending the event was Army Staff Sergeant Richard Walklet, a member of Teamsters Local 1150 in Stratford, Connecticut who works at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Walklet got his photograph taken with actor and comedian Joe Piscopo, who attended the event.