I, SGT Robert Gonzales, currently serving the U.S ARMY started brain storming Fallen Soldiers Charity after my second deployment that ended in Jan 2008. These league/tournaments started because of an idea of my friend Stephen Paul Downing II. He was a good friend of mine that I met in Korea when I was stationed over there. Downing and I hit it off real good and always hung out together; we drink and partied in Korea. We deployed to Iraq in July 2004- Aug 2005, we were stationed at Ar Ramadi, Iraq. It was there when SPC Stephen Paul Downing II past away on Oct 28, 2004. We were only there for a few months and SPC Downing was killed on Ogden Recon by a sniper. Downing was a great friend and a GREAT FATHER to his kids. Before all that and before our deployment I would tell Downing about the 4 on 4 flag football that I played, also how much I love football, and told him about my team that I had before I joined the Army.
I showed Downing the websites of letitflyfootball.com,fasports.com, and zfootball.com. When Downing seen everything he asked about how much money do the people that own this make? I told him I don’t know, Downing had a big heart and he said you know how many people love to play sports, but can’t because of money, the number of players you can have on a team so some players get cut, or even because of age/weight for some sports. That’s when he told me I should look into it so we can get people off the streets and also donate some profit to charities for youth, soldiers, sports, or something like that for charity. So with everything Downing and I talked about and after he past I thought of everything he said. It wasn’t to after my second deployment to Iraq and a passing of one of my soldiers (SPC Kube, Christopher) I then, really put everything in effect. First it was my team being changed from Mixed Up to Fallen Soldiers.
Then Fallen Soldiers Charity started and is in honor for every soldier in any branch that has paid the ultimate sacrifice in any war against Terrorism. So with everything that we are doing I have decided to donate 25% of the profit to… For the Fallen, you can get more information at www.forthefallen.org. Our goal is to get well known were we could also have tournaments for other sports too.
Thank You
Fallen Soldiers Charity
