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Arts & Entertainment

Engeman Theater Fundraiser To Be Announced

A series of fund raisers will be announced in a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, all aimed at raising money for Building Homes For Huntington Heroes.

The events will help raise the necessary money to renovate and to make handicapped accessible the home of severely injured USMC Platoon Commander First Lt. James Byler. They are sponsored by the town, Councilman Mark Mayoka, Engeman Theater and the Building Homes For Huntington Heroes committee.

Born and raised in Huntington, Byler was an infantry platoon commander with the Third Battalion, 5th Marines, of Camp Pendleton, California, when he was severely injured when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Northern Helmand Province, one of the deadliest provinces in Afghanistan.

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He was brought to safety by wheelbarrow by members of his platoon and later awarded a Purple Heart. Lt. Byler sustained serious injuries, losing both legs and fingers on each hand. He is currently at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., undergoing physical therapy and learning to use prosthetic legs.

The town and the John W. Engeman Theater support Building Homes For Huntington Heroes. The fundraisers kick off on Friday, June 24, with a concert series show called "Broadway Salutes" at Engeman. The performers will be announced Friday.

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Byler will be home Memorial Day weekend and will attend several fundraising events, including a game at the Huntington Tri-Village ballfields in Greenlawn, a boxing match at the Northport VA with Jerry Cooney and an East Northport Chamber of Commerce golf outing where some of the proceeds will benefit Byler.

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