Charity event to feature soldier who helped inspire 12 Strong

When movies claim to be “based on a true story,” film buffs often wonder what’s truth and what’s fiction. 

On Monday, fans of the 2018 action-war film 12 Strong will get their chance to ask Will Summers, one of the soldiers whose story helped inspire the flick. 

The North Texas Veterans Business Council (NTXVBC) is presenting Hooves & Highballs: A War Story, a four-course dinner prepared by SALT Seafood & Steakhouse to be paired with Horse Soldier Bourbon, which is co-founded by Summers, along with a Q&A. 

The movie 12 Strong focuses on a U.S. Army Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. The soldiers are forced to use unconventional means to overcome the odds. The film starred Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, and Rob Riggle and grossed approximately $70 million at the box office. 

In addition to the storytelling and Q&A, there will be live and silent auctions and a bourbon tasting guided by Summers. Several bottles of bourbon will also be signed by Summers and depending on the seat type purchased, those bottles are included in the price. 

Mark Lusk, president of NTXVBC, said when the council was coming up with fundraising events, events chair and Weatherford chef John Shepard mentioned having done these pairings before and thought it would be well-attended. 

“This will be the first time we’ve done this so we’ll how it goes,” Lusk said. “If it is successful, we would entertain doing it again.”

NTXVBC recently earned 501(c)(3) status and Lusk said this allows them to be able to do more for local veterans. 

“We are grateful to have been part of the [Weatherford Chamber] but we can now be more flexible in what we do and how we help,” he said. 

Sponsored by Sheepdog Response and Flex Air Heating and Cooling, the Hooves and Highballs takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 18 at Shep’s, located at 202 Fort Worth Highway in Weatherford. 

Tickets to the event are available by seat or by table and can be purchased at https://shorturl.at/8fbDo. All proceeds will help other veterans’ organizations in Parker County and surrounding areas.