A veteran of tours overseas including in Afghanistan, SSgt Rommie Parker served in the Air Force Honor Guard for four years and as a security forces specialist for another four years.

While stationed at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan he was trying to do the routine activities of deployment while "off the clock" but nothing is ever routine. SSgt Parker was on the way to do laundry and was talking to his wife on his cell phone. The sound of a mortar whistled through the air and the next thing he knew was that he was on the ground, ears ringing, with blood running down his face. This was his first traumatic brain injury. As with many injuries, the damage is not always visible. Soon after this incident Rommie struggled to sleep. He would go days without sleeping.

Later in this deployment he was on patrol with his unit and they came upon NATO troops who were clearing tank mines. The mine sweepers waved them to pass but only 20 meters later their truck was in the midst of a fiery explosion. The blast almost completely upended their truck. At the medical clinic they were diagnosed with slight concussions. This was his second brain injury.

Sgt Noble Salerno was a Fort Bragg soldier who served two tours overseas, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In early 2008, he was one of the North Carolina Heroes Fund's first grant recipients.

During these deployments, Salerno sustained a severe hip injury when crushed by a Humvee.  SGT Salerno also suffered from Leishmaneisis, which is a skin disorder that is usually transmitted by mosquitoes and sand-fleas. When Sgt Salerno returned to Fayetteville to his wife and two daughters, his injuries and the transition to civilian life, like many returning soldiers, put a strain on his finances. The North Carolina Heroes Fund helped the Salerno family get through a challenging time.

The North Carolina Heroes Fund announced the addition of three new members of its Board of Directors. The three new Board members were elected to two-year terms which will begin January 2012.

Jimmy Hicks serves as President of Pike Energy Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pike Electric. David Pfleeger is business development manager for Parsons Corporation. Thomas Mussoni is Vice President of Development for Auto Bell Car Wash. All three are from the Charlotte area.

The organization is preparing for a surge in applications during the next twelve months. As many of North Carolina's military heroes return from overseas during the next few weeks and months, we anticipate an increase is requests for support for financial hardships from our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. North Carolina's veterans and their families have been there for us and now we will be there for them.