Group seeks to raise money for veterans appreciation event

SWAMPSCOTT – The North Shore Veterans Appreciation Committee is soliciting donations for an upcoming fundraiser.The fundraiser has been scheduled for Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael’s Hall, 65 West Neptune St., Lynn and it is being held to raise funds for a much larger Veterans Appreciation event that will be held in June.Swampscott Veterans Agent James Schultz said the North Shore Veterans Appreciation Committee is an offshoot of the Swampscott Veterans Council and it seeks to provide veterans and their families with the recognition they deserve.Highlights of the Feb. 13 event include an appearance by the Singing State Trooper Dan Clark, the Lynn English High School Marine Corps ROTC Drill team and the band Rockafellas.Donnie Angonia, who is an original founding member of Rockafellas, is the glue that holds the band together. His prowess on vocals, keyboard and guitar make him a triple threat. Like all the members of the group, he has a love of all kinds of music, but he has a special affinity for classic rock, soul and country classics. Tim Rogers, one of the original founders of the group, can sing and his bass playing runs the gamut from the simplest of bass parts to the funkiest of funk.A consummate performer with a long history in theater, Donnie Wilson gives everything he’s got to every performance. With a knack for finding the right harmony, Wilson does equally well filling out backup vocals or taking the spotlight for his own. He can add acoustic guitar, tambourine, harmonica or maracas to spice up any song. Heath Allyn sings as well as plays guitar and keyboards. He is known as “The Human Jukebox” for his seemingly uncanny ability to play almost any song he’s ever heard and Craig Knight, who plays drums, is the rocker of the group.VFW Post # 1240 Commander John Sacherski said he expects representatives from VFWs from Lynn, Saugus, Peabody and Andover will attend to lend their support at the fundraiser.”We are hoping a lot of people show up to show their support for the veterans,” he said. “In order to have the appreciation day in June we need to raise a lot of money.”Tickets for the event, which are $20 per person, are available at the Swampscott VFW Post, 8 Pine St. and will also be available at the door that evening.Schultz said all funds would used to help pay for an event that would be held in June at O’Keefe Center at Salem State College.”The goal is to have a day to honor all veterans,” he said. “We want to honor all Gold Star families, veterans and active duty military personnel. “We’re hoping to get the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team and different military bands to perform at the June event. It’s a work in progress.”Schultz said monetary donations and items for the raffle could be dropped off at the Swampscott VFW.