AHERO Needs You ! - AHEROUSA . org / donate
The Elks Raise Funds for August ’ s Pensacola Beach Warrior Hook-Up & Smoker
By Dave Glassman
With year number 10 coming up for AHERO ’ s Pensacola Beach Annual Warrior Hook-Up fishing and enjoyment weekend , the members of Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge # 476 once again “ rose as one ” to support the all-volunteer Team AHERO on behalf of our wounded Veterans . The long weekend of August 19th through 22nd involves an enormous amount of putting together at no small expense , and the Elks are champions of always coming through . This kind of enthusiasm and response , along with that of our amazing Greater Pensacola community is how AHERO manages to bring 80 or more Veterans here to be accommodated and royally treated during these great events .
In addition , the Lodge held fundraiser on June 12th this year with an amazing menu of pulled pork , baked beans and all the fixin ’ s . Funds raised were to pay for the materials used in the construction of the custom BBQ smoker built by Mr . George “ Mickey ” Constance for use by AHERO up in Shorter , Ala ., during its events at AHERO Farm and the anticipated Warrior Lodge . Micky gave us the lowdown on how he came to be a designer of large-scale smokers :
“ It all started back in Waco , Texas as I learned from a group the art of smoking vs grilling . Some years later I was asked by a group in Chattanooga , Tenn ., to roast a whole pig as I already had a reputation of smoking brisket , butts , ribs and chicken – but never a whole pig . I needed a larger smoker so I got busy designing and having a large scale smoker built . The pig-roast was a great success . Over the years , I kept improving the design to include the option of grilling in addition to smoking . As my skill level improved so did the design of the grill . I believe it is now everything needed for grilling and smoking meats . I have had a great time over the last number of years using the smoker for all types of events . Now my hope is to have AHERO share that same enjoyment .”
Thanks to the Pensacola Beach Elks for their always-appreciated ongoing support , and to Mickey Constance for his work on the smoker . And to all : We ’ re looking forward to a GREAT 10th Year Anniversary Pensacola Beach Warrior Hook-Up this August !
AHERO ' s new smoker . Showing it off left to right are Ken Odom , Roger Padgett ( who made the wood flag with its AHERO logo ), the smoker ' s designer George " Mickey " Constance , and Dave Glassman .
AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 93