From left, Tom Wando, his son-in-law Marine Capt. Ross Reynolds and son Marine Cpl. Caleb Wando at Reynolds’ ‘Winging’ celebration in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Reynolds received his Naval Aviator Gold Wings. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Los Alamos resident Tom Wando is organizing a fundraiser to help support his daughter, Lana Wando Reynolds, who lost her husband, Captain Ross “ALF” Reynolds when his and three other U.S. Marines’ VM-22B Osprey, flight Ghost 3-1 crashed in Norway in 2022.
The couple had only been married a little more than a month when Ross died. To assist his daughter with all the financial burdens she is facing due to the loss of her spouse, Tom is organizing a Friends of Ross (FOR) “ALF” Memorial Golf and Cornhole Tournament Sept. 22 at the Los Alamos County Golf Course.
The charity event will start with registration at 8 a.m. and kick off at 9 a.m. There will be numerous FOR ALF awards and prizes. Food, beverages and “FOR ALF” merchandise will be sold at the event.
Besides supporting Lana, the proceeds also will go toward local Boys Scout troops.
The best way to support this charity is to sign up as a participant or a sponsor. To do this, go to: https://alffundraiser.regfox.com/alf-memorial-golf-tournament-. Additionally, donations can be made on a GoFundMe page
The Los Alamos Daily Post published a story about Lana’s situation, it can be viewed here.
Lana resides in Hampstead, NC. Tom commented that “Losing Ross has obviously devastated Lana and the ensuing months have been a rough time for her.”
One of the additional burdens Lana inherited as Ross’ next of kin is that she did not receive the military life insurance benefits due to an oversight in the administrative system, Tom said. While many of Ross’ friends have elected to stand in the gap with various fundraisers and donations and military related charities and foundations have provide various levels of support, Lana still struggles financially.
Still, she has attended various events that honor her husband and the other crew members who died in the crash, including a 5K race in Jacksonville, NC sponsored by the Wingman. Tom said Lana and the entire Wando family attended.
The community is encouraged to take part in the fundraiser Sept. 22 to help support the Boys Scouts as well as Lana.