Christmas Can Cure Gives Dream Veteran's Day Wedding to Wounded Soldier

MESQUITE, Nev., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Wounded veteran Kevin Hardin and his bride Lillian May couldn't afford their dream wedding after falling in love over the soldier's hospital bed. That's why the Wounded Warrior Project, Christmas Can Cure and the Eureka Casino Resort teamed up to give the couple a wedding to remember.

"It is a great privilege to host Lillian and Kevin's wedding in Mesquite, Nevada, a small town that values and honors the contributions of our American servicemen and women," said Greg Lee, Eureka Casino Resort President.

The wedding will take place on November 13, when the couple gathers with friends and family at the Eureka. The ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. poolside, followed by the reception from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The couple welcomes media attendance and interviews.

"I am thankful and excited, not only about the wedding, but also to meet people in the community who have opened their hearts to us," said Kevin.

Kevin and Lillian were engaged to be married in August 2009, but couldn't afford wedding expenses. The couple eloped last April in a Texas courthouse that was formerly a convenience store. Needless to say, this was not the wedding Kevin's mother had in mind for her oldest son. A do-over wedding in Mesquite was welcome news for the family.

"Christmas Can Cure is a network of people who are actively looking to fulfill the needs and wishes of severely injured veterans," said Andre Carrier, founder of Christmas Can Cure and chief operating officer of the Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite. "We are inspired by how much others in the community are excited to help."

In 2007, Kevin, aged 21, was severely injured in Iraq when the Hum-V he was driving was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The front line army medic endured 32 surgeries during the following two years. He lost several fingers, has a fused wrist and more than a dozen pieces of shrapnel remain lodged in his brain, inoperable. While at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Kevin met Lillian May, who assisted in his recovery.

Christmas Can Cure is flying Kevin and Lillian's close family and wedding party to Mesquite from all corners of the country for the wedding. Partners are pitching in, too. Pleasant Holidays and Sheraton Waikiki/Maui have donated a Hawaii honeymoon. Bliss Salon (Mesquite) will style the wedding party, Days Remember Flower Shoppe (Overton, NV) will provide flowers. Al's Formal Wear offered tuxedos; video and photography will be provided by TFV Photography and Five Stars Creative (Las Vegas).

About Christmas Can Cure

Christmas Can Cure (CCC) is a 501(c)(3) originally founded by the Carrier family of Jackson, New Hampshire. The organization seeks to give military families in need the opportunity to experience a perfect Christmas. With the help of the Wounded Warrior Project, Christmas Can Cure gives selected wounded warriors and their families an experience to remember. For more information, visit: www.ChristmasCanCure.org.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Eureka Casino Resort

The Eureka Casino Resort is an intimate, newly renovated, 214-room resort located in Mesquite, Nevada, 35 miles south of St. George, Utah. The hotel recently renovated each guest room, and built a resort pool and cabana with scenic views of Mesquite's red-topped mesas. The casino is designed for guest comfort and features slot and video poker machines; table games include blackjack, craps, roulette, and more. The casino has Mesquite's only 24-hour poker room with a race and sports book. The Eureka offers three full-service restaurants, Experience: The Buffet, Mesquite's largest and only live action buffet; The Courtyard Cafe; and Eureka's signature restaurant, Gregory's. The Eureka hosts weddings, meetings and golf outings in its Grand Canyon Ballroom and meeting rooms. Additional information is available online at: www.EurekaMesquite.com.

SOURCE Eureka Casino Resort