Reserve Command bake sale supports wounded warriors

Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command personnel hosted a bake sale May 19, 2011, to support two servicemembers whose children were wounded in Afghanistan. Proceeds from the sale will go to offset medical costs for Army infantryman Cpl. Griffin Fitzgerald, son of CMSgt. Richard Brown, and Marine combat engineer Cpl. Tony Mullis, son of Master Sgt. Cozetta Quigg, who lost limbs in battle and are recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexy Saltekoff)

Reserve Command hosts bake sale to support wounded warriors

Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command people held a bake sale May 19, 2011, for two Airmen who had children wounded in Afghanistan. Proceeds from the sale will go to offset medical costs for Army infantryman Cpl. Griffin Fitzgerald, son of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Brown, and Marine combat engineer Cpl. Tony Mullis, son of Master Sgt. Cozetta Quigg. Both sons lost limbs in battle and are recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexy Saltekoff)

Reserve HQ holds bake sale for wounded warriors

Published May 19, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Christian J. Michael
AFRC Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command hosted a Wounded Warrior bake sale May 19 to help two military men injured while serving in Afghanistan. Both of the wounded warriors have parents working at HQ AFRC.

They have similar stories. Both lost limbs within weeks of each other, both are only two doors down from each other at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C., and both are new or soon-to-be-new parents.

Marine combat engineer Cpl. Tony Mullis, son of Master Sgt. Cozetta Quigg from AFRC Logistics, suffered injuries only days after his first child was born. Army infantryman Cpl. Griffin Fitzgerald, son of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Brown, AFRC superintendent of readiness, is expecting a little girl this summer.

When word came that AFRC members had sons injured in the war, planning to support them began immediately.

"We knew we had to do something," said Chief Master Sgt. Kimberly Hagerty, AFRC Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, who set up the bake sale. "They're so far from family and a support system."

The bake sale proceeds will help offset medical costs for both corporals. They will receive well wishes in the forms of notes and letters written at the bake sale by patrons.

Sergeant Quigg felt overwhelmed when she heard about the bake sale. She greatly appreciated support both from her directorate, the AFRC commander and her Reserve "family."

"I can't believe all this support," she said. "It just touched my heart; not just for my son, but also for (Corporal) Fitzgerald."

Chief Brown said the bake sale and well wishes means so much to him.

"It chokes me up just thinking about it - and I don't choke up," he said. "The care from the folks here in the command has always been outstanding, but this has just far exceeded anything I'd imagined."