Foundation Faces
George Hauer & Clark Knicely – Operation: Music Aid
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With Foundation Faces, The Madison Foundation periodically features a special individual or group who represents the spirit of personal commitment that enriches our community.
In 2005, George Hauer and Clark Knicely were having a chat at Hauer’s store, Madison Music, and Knicely—a 21 year army veteran—suggested how important it was to him to have his guitar with him during rehabilitation from Desert Storm war injuries. Hauer, whose father had served as a WWII field hospital surgeon, also had a deep empathy for the soldiers and their injuries. Moved by their love of music and concern for the thousands badly injured in recent combat, they organized “Operation: Music Aid” to supply musical instruments to wounded service men and women to help rebuild their spirits as the surgeons and rehabilitation specialists rebuilt their bodies.
Two communities responded—the local community, and the music community. Donations have ranged from change in a jar at Hauer’s store to donations of instruments and music supplies from Hauer’s suppliers. Charlie Daniels contributed an autographed guitar, and Graham Nash and David Crosby endorsed Hauer’s and Knicely’s efforts. Commendations are piling up from the Army and politicians, but most important to Hauer and Knicely are the grateful letters from the wounded service people who have benefited from their generosity and effort. After only a bit more than three years into their effort, inspired by their compassion for the pain of people injured in our service, and Operation: Music Aid has donated $630,000 in musical instruments to military bases and hospitals all over the world.
We at The Madison Foundation are proud to have supported Operation: Music Aid in its founding years, and applaud the example of selfless service that Clark Knicely and George Hauer provide to us all.
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