Thank you to the Mann Family!
Hilton Head Island, SC – October 16, 2024:
In partnership with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Beach Properties of Hilton Head was thrilled to announce the recipient of our 2024 Military Appreciation Vacation Giveaway during the team’s matchup against the South Carolina Stingrays at Enmarket Arena. This initiative, launched in November 2023, received an overwhelming response with over 1,500 nominations of active-duty service members and veterans. Each nominee was a true hero, representing courage, dedication, and sacrifice.
We were honored to award this year’s Military Appreciation Vacation to Joshua Mann, who was nominated by his father-in-law, Kurt Dailey. In his nomination entry, Kurt wrote:
“Joshua (age 41) served in the US Navy during the Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom campaigns. He is now suffering from stage 4 brain cancer and his condition is very serious. He has received a decision of 100% disability from the Veterans Affairs Administration. His treatment is going well, but we do not know how much time we will have with him. He is married to my daughter (Anita) and has given me two wonderful grandchildren named Max and Logan. Josh has been a good husband and father and has helped me many times with building projects and automobile repairs.”
Kurt, along with his wife Emily, daughter Anita, and grandchildren Max and Logan, attended the announcement to support Joshua and celebrate his selection for this special recognition.
A Week of Relaxation and Family Time
Joshua, along with nine of his guests, recently enjoyed a memorable seven-day stay at a stunning oceanfront property on Hilton Head Island. The vacation home, located at 8 East Beach Lagoon, was generously donated by its owners, Melanie and Russ Richards. The family also received several additional perks to make their stay even more enjoyable:
- Complimentary bicycle rentals to explore the island.
- A mini golf experience for some family-friendly competition.
- A dolphin tour, courtesy of our partners at Xplorie, offering a chance to take in the natural beauty of the region.
- A sunset photo session donated by Memory Lane Portraits to capture beautiful family memories.
- A $500 gift card from The CRAB Group, which the family used during a delightful dinner at Benny’s Coastal Kitchen. Beach Properties also contributed a $250 gift card to this memorable dinner.
- A trail ride through the scenic Sea Pines Forest Preserve, hosted by Lawton Stables.
Ed Bray, General Manager of Beach Properties, expressed his thoughts on being a part of this initiative, stating:
“Several months ago, while attending a Savannah Ghost Pirates game, I was inspired by their tribute to the men and women past and present who have served in our armed forces. In discussing potential options with Ghost Pirates staff, we developed a season long partnership with them with the end goal to honor one deserving family an experience of a lifetime. With over 1500 entries, choosing a winner was more challenging than expected but after reviewing Josh’s heroism and the current battle he is facing the decision became much easier.
During their time at 8 East Beach Lagoon, the family often shared photos of their stay with our team. Seeing the photos and knowing that we had a small part in providing lifelong memories to all of his family is very rewarding for my entire staff and I. We cannot thank each of our partners who contributed to making these memories come true. At the end of the day though there is only one hero we all should be thanking and that is Josh Mann. Thank you, Josh, for the years of commitment to the United States Navy and maintaining our freedom.”
Honoring Service and Sacrifice
This giveaway is a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices made by Joshua, his family, and all military members and veterans who serve our country. It is an honor to provide this opportunity for rest, relaxation, and family bonding. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Joshua and every nominee for their commitment to protecting our freedom.
Joshua’s family expressed their gratitude in heartfelt messages. His father-in-law Kurt shared:
“Well, our week is over. I can’t thank all those that helped, especially the homeowner who let us stay there. It was a week that will never be forgotten! Thank you, and we send our love to all!”
Joshua’s wife Anita echoed the sentiment:
“This week was amazing. We had so many adventures and memories that were made. We cannot thank you enough.”
We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the Savannah Ghost Pirates and our incredible community partners for their support in making this Military Appreciation Giveaway a success.
