On the afternoon of August 26, 2021, Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss, age 23, along with 12 other young, brave United States military warriors and at least 170 civilians were killed by a terrorist explosion and subsequent gunfire at the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport Abbey Gate. In his memory, his mother, Paula Knauss, formed the Respect and Remember Foundation, also known as the R2Factor.
SSG Knauss was from Corryton, a graduate of Gibbs High School and their JROTC cadet training program. One of the goals of the R2Factor is to promote physical training and readiness for cadets at annual events they hold. They encourage qualified high school JROTC and ROTC cadets with Merit Scholarships of Appreciation as they graduate and go into the military.
Another of their goals is to support active-duty military personnel. This includes mailing Careboxes with needed items inside. R2Factor believes in encouraging bonding among military members by having recreational outlets and events for active duty, veterans, and Gold Star Families (a family that has lost an immediate family member who died while serving in the military). And they seek policy changes at the state and federal government agencies to improve life for active duty, veterans, and Gold Star Families.
By honoring and remembering SSG Knauss, we are honoring, respecting and remembering all military veterans and active duty.
Most of the supplies for the next shipment of Careboxes for active duty personnel were already collected and ready to pack into 61 separate boxes. The supplies were stored in Florida—right where Hurricane Milton stormed through—and all the supplies were lost. They now need to be re-collected. Will you help?
On November 9, the Respect and Remember Foundation, Union County Veterans, and members of the veterans’ community will ride through the hills of Tennessee from Gibbs Ruritan Park to Wilson Park in Maynardville to honor Veterans at the Union County Veterans Appreciation Family Picnic.
Paula Knauss will have a table set up at the Picnic to accept donations for the Careboxes. Union County citizens are encouraged to donate items from the list, assist in packing the boxes or make monetary donations (no amount too small) to the Respect and Remember Foundation. All the items need to be identical (such as 61 of exactly the same nail clippers - perhaps even teaming up with others to get all 61of an item!). If you are active duty or a Veteran, you are encouraged to stop by and say hello to Paula Knauss!
Supplies needed for the 61 Careboxes for active-duty military:
61 Decks of cards
61 Large body wipe packs
61 Boxes of cookies
61 Packages of Goldfish crackers
61 Pairs of military crew socks
61 Journal notebooks
61 Nail clippers
122 Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups
122 Packs of Ramen Noodles
122 Packs of Peanut Butter Crackers
122 Ritz Cracker packs
61 Nerf footballs
61 Hygiene care packs
61 Toothbrushes (with covers)
61 Toothpastes (in the box)
122 Lip balm
61 Aluminum-free deodorant
61 Chocolate pudding packs
61 Pens
183 Gallon Ziplock bags
Bring your donations to the Union County Veterans Appreciation Family Picnic November 9, 2024, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.