November 11 is a special day for many reasons. The National Veterans Day observance immediately comes to mind. This year Friday, November 11 also marks what would have been Cory Joseph Wilson’s 25^th birthday and includes an event to raise cardiac awareness and funding to help save lives. CORY’S BIRTHDAY BREWFEST will be from 5:30-7:30PM, Friday, November 11 at Southbound Brewing Company, 107 East Lathrop Avenue.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Nashville recording artist Forest Colter. The event is open to the public and tickets are $20 per person (must be 21 or older/reservations not required).  Additional information is available at www.fireball40.org and Southbound’s Facebook page.

A Savannah native, Cory died in 2013 due to a fatal cardiac arrhythmia while in class at Georgia Southern University. There was no AED nearby at that time. Since 2013, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, supporters and players, donations have helped Cory’s family and friends present AEDs to the following locations: Chatham County's Tom Triplett Park, Lake Mayer, Memorial Stadium, Ambuc Park, Jennifer Ross Soccer Complex, and Charlie C. Brooks Park; City of Savannah's Guy Minick and Paulson Complexes, Daffin Park, Grayson Stadium, and L. Scott Stell Park; Garden City's Bazemore Park Baseball Complex; the Habersham School; Heritage Christian Academy; and Camp Happy Days (for children with cancer). Funds raised have also helped provide four scholarships to Georgia Southern University students.

During this period, more than 6,500 people have received Hands-Only CPR training from Cory’s mom and thousands have heard Cory’s story through local, state and national media outlets. In 2015, Cory’s sister and parents were featured in a nationally aired American Heart Association video and on the AHA webpage and blog.

Following Cory’s death, Georgia Southern University developed an intensive, campus-wide AED program. The program included the installation of more than 170 AEDs throughout the university’s campus as well as increased cardiac education.