Helen Back owner Chris Sehman was asked recently if his bar would host a fundraiser for an EOD technician who had been severely injured.
Sehman’s response, like it is to so many other requests for military fundraisers, was an immediate “Hell, yeah.”
That willingness to help the military has earned Sehman this year’s Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award. Sehman will be presented the award at a ceremony Friday morning at the Pentagon.
“I’m honored when they want to come throw their party, their informal side of it, on my deck,” Sehman said. “It’s my way of saying, ‘absolutely, I’m there with you.’ I want to have them there just because they’re my neighbors. I’m not in there in the plane with them or carrying an M-16, but I feel like they’re a part of my community. There’s almost a fundraiser every week of some sort at one of my stores.
“I try not to say no to 5K runs and golf tournaments in some way or fashion where I can at least donate pizzas or donate my time or help promote it,” he added.
The Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award is named for the military philanthropists who founded the Fisher House Foundation.
The secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force created it in 1996 to recognize individuals or organizations that demonstrate exceptional patriotism and humanitarian concern for service members and their families.
Sehman was nominated for the award by the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base. He served as the unit’s honorary commander in 2011.
Sehman was never in the military, but when he was in grade school he became fascinated with World War II. His grandfather told him about his experiences as a civilian during the war and being asked to save metal, scrap and even butter for military use.
When American troops were deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, Sehman remembered his grandfather’s lessons and began to offer free pizza to military personnel on Mondays. He has continued that service and gives away as many as 80 pizzas on some days.
“Offering a 10 percent discount just wasn’t enough. In today’s era, although noble, it just seemed not enough,” Sehman said. “The response I got was just awesome. I got a lot of sincere thank yous, saying that was just a neat thing to do.”
Sehman also has helped organize or participate in more than 100 military fundraisers that have raised more than $250,000.
“It’s just been a privilege from my point of view as just a bar owner to kind of be involved,” Sehman said. “I’ve been fortunate to have something they like, which is pizza and beer, and I think it’s made a happy marriage, but I’ve enjoyed the ride tremendously getting to know some of the people.
“It really educated me on what the military means, not only on a national level to all of us but really what it means here on the Emerald Coast.”
Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.