Fallen Soldier Fundraiser

Ryan Connolly - Fallen Soldier Fundraiser for Ryan's daughter

"Don't worry, I'll be okay!"  These are the words that 24 year old Sergeant Ryan Connolly said to his dad Jim Connolly every time he talked to him.  You see, Ryan was in the US Army and stationed in Afghanistan serving with the 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Germany.  In June of 2007, just one week after his daughter Kayla was born, Ryan left for Eastern Afghanistan.

After service in Afghanistan for one year and just days left to go back to serving in Germany, Sergeant Ryan Connolly lost his life.

Ryan was a 2002 graduate of Piner High School in Santa Rosa, California.  At age 21, Ryan decided to enlist in the US Army.  He tested very high on the entrance exams and complete advanced schooling, becoming a medic.  In his short career, he reenlisted after only two years of duty and was awarded many heroic medals.

Ryan's grandfather served is WW II. Ryan's grandmother gave him a divisional patch of his grandfather's to wear the day he shipped out.  Ryan was carrying the patch in his pocket the day he died.  Ryan was killed on June 24, 2008. 

Ryan left a young wife and a baby daughter he had only seen for a total of three weeks.  He also left a 1970 Nova that he was going to rebuild.  While we can never give Kayla her father back, we can give her the car he would have built and shared with her.  Our goal is to bring two things that Ryan loved together. 

Members of the community, headed up by the Peggy Sue's Cruise Board, have embarked on a mission to re-build a 1970 Nova left by Ryan Connolly after his untimely death.  The intent for this project is to build this car in the way that this young man envisioned it.  Tricked out! Once the car is finished, we plan to sell it at auction and put the money into a trust fund set up for Ryan's daughter Kayla.

Kayla and her mother Stefanie have moved to the United States from Germany to live with Ryan’s family.

Our goal is to build the car and have it ready to debut in August 2009. The partially completed car was on display at the 7th Annual Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise and at the Nascar race weekend at Infineon Raceway. The car was showcased at the Big O Tire’s Sponsor booth at both venues.  

To build interest in the car, it will be showcased in other big shows in 2009, including Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada. Drive Magazine has asked to have the car in July and will be doing a feature on it this summer.  This car will also be featured in our Event Guide, as we will be doing a feature story on Ryan Connolly.

In the next 2 years, the car will be sold at auction and the money placed in a trust fund for Kayla's future needs. This will also give us enough time to showcase the car and draw interest to it.

Jim, Ryan's father, says that this project is more than he or Ryan could dream of and that he knows Ryan is so very proud. It is hard for Jim because as soon as Ryan was to return from the war, they would be working together on the project. With excitement and pain Jim Connolly wants to get the car built to honor his son and help build the future for his granddaughter.

We are excited to be a part of such a start to this little girl’s future and once again giving back!

Regards

Rich and Peggy Williams

Peggy Sue’s All-American Cruise

www.peggysuescruise.com

To make donations stop by any of our participating Big O Tires stores. 

You may also send checks to: 

Big O Tires, 4980 Allison Parkway, Vacaville CA. 95688 Attn: Laura

Make checks payable to "Peggy Sues's Cruise/Fallen Soldier"

Thank you for helping us build the future for the family of Ryan Connolly.