This past Memorial Day Weekend, while most were busy enjoying the water, weather or spending time on the grill, one resident of Garner, N.C., was busy raising funds and awareness for some of the most severely injured troops from the War on Terror.

In the past two months, volunteer Karla Marcus has raised nearly $600 for the Independence Fund, a 501(c)3 with a mission of providing high end wheelchairs and physical therapy equipment that deserving veterans of the War on Terror are otherwise not receiving.

Markus, who has lived in Garner for more than 30 years, was inspired to do something for the troops after receiving an email forwarded to her by a friend pertaining to the Lt. Dan Weekend, a four-day event honoring some of the most severely injured troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event, which will benefit the Independence Fund, features a free concert for the troops performed by entertainer Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band.

In recent years, Sinise has assumed the stature of “Entertainer-in-Chief” for the troops that was once held by Bob Hope. Sinise, who is donating his time on behalf of the Independence Fund, will be performing for the troops at the 16th Annual Shrimp Festival in Beaufort, S.C., on Oct. 1.

Beaufort is also where the actor immortalized his famous character “Lt. Dan” in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump that was largely filmed in Beaufort as well.

“What impressed me as I read about the Fund was the fact that there are no paid staff members and that the fund has raised over $750,000 for the troops via their grass roots efforts,” Marcus said. “I was inspired to help because I knew that every dollar would be appreciated and used wisely, “ she concluded.

Numerous injured veterans from neighboring Fort Bragg have attended Independence Fund events in the past and will be attending the Lt. Dan Weekend as well.

“We had just briefed the Commanding General of the XVIIIth ABN Corps on the Lt. Dan Weekend when I heard about what Ms. Marcus had done,” said SFC Justin Minyard.

Minyard, who was stationed at the Pentagon and helped in the recovery effort following the 9/11 attack and later suffered a back injury while serving in Afghanistan, received a specialized hand-crank bicycle from the Independence Fund a little over a year ago and has since become an avid cyclist.

“That someone like Ms. Marcus, who has no direct connection to the military, would take the time to do this to help our injured vets is extremely humbling,” Minyard said.