Benefit set for Sept. 10

Hunter Alexander Frank, born in 2000, enlisted in the Navy immediately after his graduation from Owatonna High School in 2018 as an Aircrewman with the VP-26 Tridents. He was deployed to El Salvador, where he was killed in the line of duty on October 17, 2020. September 10, his brother, Brandon Flores, and sister-in-law, Maggi Flores, are hosting a benefit for Wounded Warriors Family Support at the Waseca American Legion in Frank’s memory.

“He was pretty big into 4H. Pretty much anything outdoor recreational was, like, his life. He ran a demolition derby one year,” Brandon said about his brother. “Hunter was a really quiet and reserved kid, but once you got him going he was really goofy,” Maggi added. “Him and I got into a cupcake fight at his graduation party.” The couple described Frank as loving, protective, and stubborn. In Brandon’s words, “When he made up his mind, he made up his mind.” Both Brandon and Maggi also note that Frank  had a very close relationship with his younger sister, Indya Frank, and was extremely protective of her. He spent a lot of time at their grandparents’ farm and loved his dog, Raven. “He was a good kid. Sucked at beer pong though. He didn’t even drink or anything,” Maggi said. “He just wasn’t very coordinated,” Brandon added, laughing.

Wounded Warriors Family Support, the charity which will receive the funds raised, is a non-profit which provides caregiver respite, veteran training, and mobility assistance, sends veteran families on retreats, and more. When Brandon decided he wanted to host a benefit to honor and remember his brother, Maggi immediately researched a long list of possible charities they could donate to. One of the main resources the couple used as they processed that list was the website Charity Navigator, which allows potential donors to see what a charity does with the money it receives. In addition to the stellar rating that WWFS maintains on the site, the organization appealed to Flores because it serves the families of wounded, injured, and killed veterans in addition to the veterans themselves. After the loss of his brother, that meant a lot to Brandon. Maggi adds that the charity has been working with them closely, including numerous personal conversations with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The September 10 benefit will consist of a motorcycle ride followed by a spaghetti dinner, and a silent auction.

The ride will begin at 1:30 and travel from the Waseca American Legion to Meriden, the hometown of Frank and Flores, where they will pass by their grandparents’ farm, their childhood home, and the church where Frank was confirmed. From Meriden, the route will travel through Owatonna, Faribault, Morristown, and Elysian, visiting each town’s American Legion post. Before finishing, the riders will visit Woodville Cemetery, where Frank is buried, to pay their respects. The ride is expected to last about four hours and end at the Waseca American Legion in time for the spaghetti dinner. An ambulance from the North Memorial Ambulance Service will accompany the riders.

For non-riders, the American Legion doors will open at 5 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 5:30.  Silent auction items will be available for viewing and bids; door prizes will be drawn for periodically. Donations in the lead-up to the benefit have been generous. Already, over $2,000 in cash donations have been given, and 13 auction items have been collected with more promised. The items on the silent auction include a number of big ticket items: a guitar, a side of beef, and family passes for four to the attractions at the Mall of America. Most donations have been from individuals, but a number of local businesses and artisans have contributed, including Past and Present, Waseca Music, the Speckled Hen, Peace ‘n’ Time Candles, and Tim’s Custom Engraving. Donation intake and ticket presales are continuing until September 9, the day before the benefit. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For both ticket purchases and donations, contact Brandon at 507-363-1569 or hafmemorial@outlook.com.