Raising money to help wounded veterans

Ted Levitt has just the right vehicle for raising money to help wounded veterans — his customized, star-spangled car.

Levitt, owner of Chick & Ruth’s Delly, parked the 1931 Buick in front his famous downtown Annapolis eatery for a few hours on Memorial Day to raise awareness of his nonprofit group, Faces of Valor USA, and an upcoming fundraising event.

The organization raises money to provide assistance to wounded members of the military, as well as police, firefighters and EMS, or to families of those personnel killed in the line of duty.

Levitt views the work as an extension of the patriotism already on display at his restaurant daily as people gather to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

‘It’s taking doing the pledge to the next level,’ he said.

In a sense, the Buick is the public ‘face’ of Valor USA, since the special paint job features the portraits of 43 service members, from World War II to the current war in Iraq, as well as firefighters who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Buick was unveiled last July 4, after three years of work to build. Levitt said the group has raised about $10,000 so far, but he hopes to get more contributions at a June 7 event that features a motorcycle ride from Laurel to Annapolis.

For more information, about the event or the organization, visit the Web site at www.facesofvalorusa.com.