ROTC cadet from Arlington Hts. raising funds for vets

Arlington Heights college student Erik Stoltzner attributes his dream of serving in the military to the inspiration of his grandfather, an Army medic in the Philippines during World War II.

Stoltzner attended Hersey High School, where he played football and baseball, and he now attends St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, drawing on his athletic conditioning to train as a member of its ROTC program.

The program's stated mission is to provide college-trained officers for the U.S. Army, the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard - and to motivate young people to be better citizens in both their college environment and social environment.

Stoltzner committed to the Army, he says, thinking back to all the stories he heard from his grandfather. He continues to train all summer, including taking long walks with his rucksack, or completing ruck marches, as part of his basic training.

It was on one of these marches that he formulated his plan: why not complete a long march and dedicate it to a worthy cause. The Wounded Warrior Project, with its mission to serve wounded military returning from current conflicts, came to mind immediately, he says.

"I wanted to give back to all the Marines, airmen, sailors and soldiers who have sacrificed so much," Stoltzner says. "I started to get emotional just thinking about it."

Together with some of his fellow cadets and military science faculty at St. Norbert, Stoltzner has organized "For Them," a nearly 140-mile walk that they will undertake, beginning Aug. 10.

"I think of it as my job," Stoltzner says of all of his preparations.

He hopes to raise $15,000 in pledges for the Wounded Warrior Project, and as of last week had raised more than $6,000.

The ROTC comrades will be stepping off from Wilmette Beach - wearing their 45-pound ruck sacks - and following the beach around the southern tip of Lake Michigan, and then north to South Haven, Michigan.

"Our train-up has already begun," Stoltzner says. "We care too much for our wounded warriors to fall short on this mission."

According to its website, the Wounded Warrior Project anticipates that by 2017, the organization will have served 100,000 warriors, with $96 million in benefit entitlements secured for soldiers and their families.

Its latest figures, compiled earlier this month, indicate the organization has served more than 75,000 military and more than 12,000 family members.

Stoltzner and his friends, including fellow cadets Cole Andrekus, Thomas Wolf, Matt Williams (another Hersey grad) and Dan Burke, expect to complete their trek on Aug. 17, a little over one week before they are due to report back to campus.

During his senior year, Stoltzner will serve as Cadet Company Commander at St. Norbert, where he hopes to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May.

For Them fundraiser

What: "For Them," 140-mile fundraising walk for Wounded Warrior Project

When: Aug. 10-17

Where: Steps off from Wilmette Beach and heads to South Haven, Michigan

Goal: $15,000

Information: <a href="http://fundraise.woundedwarriorproject.org/rtt/Fundraising/team/forthem">fundraise.woundedwarriorproject.org/rtt/Fundraising/team/forthem</a>