Catch A Lift Veterans Support Organization Gathers At Compo Beach
On the eve of the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks the community of Westport CT gathered with a group of combat injured veterans of the Catch A Lift Fund to remember that fateful day. The sunset on Compo beach set the stage to hear the stories of three combat wounded veterans who selflessly served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan and how they have been impacted by the non profit organization Catch A Lift Fund. The Catch A Lift Fund aids in the holistic healing of our Nation's combat injured veterans through four core pillars of Nutrition, Fitness, Community, and Emotional Wellness.
Speakers at the event included Clayton Jensen (US Army Master Sergeant) who supported numerous Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics operations as well as hostage rescue, personnel recovery, and national level intelligence collection and analysis. He served four deployments in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. Jason Livingston (US Army Sgt) also spoke. His duty stations included 8-10 CAV 4th Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division Fort Hood Tx , 3/81 Armor 194th Training Brigade Fort Knox KY -Instructor, 1-91 CAV 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Conn Barracks Schweinfurt Germany- Fire Team Leader He deployed to Baghdad Iraq in December 2005 and again in 2010 to Logar Province Afghanistan. And was medically Retired in January 2014. Livingston is a Purple Heart award recipient who received national recognition in 2021 for continued service.
Catch A Lift was founded by Lynn Coffland after her younger brother Chris was killed in Afghanistan on November 11, 2009.
The Town Westport is proud to be an early and ardent supporter of this amazing organization thanks to the leadership of Adam Vengrow and Andy Berman. Many of our local businesses and residents have contributed to the CAL success as well. First Selectman Jim Marpe, Second Selectwoman Jen Tooker and board of Finance member Andrea Moore. Singer/songwriter P.J. Pacifico performed.