The Ricky Slocum Memorial Fund hosts its second annual poker tournament and casino night on Nov. 16 at Robinson Ranch. Tickets to the event are $100 and go directly to financial support for local veterans.

Bob and Kay Slocum started the Ricky Slocum Memorial Fund about a year and a half ago in honor of their son.

LCpl. Ricky Slocum enlisted in the Marine Corps after 9/11 out of desire to make a difference.

He died in Iraq on Oct. 24, 2004, two weeks into deployment.

Slocum died when his Humvee overturned in an accident at his base. He was a Saugus High School graduate in 2003.

The Ricky Slocum Memorial Fund’s mission is to honor and support local veterans and their families. The fund assists struggling veterans by helping them get situated when they return and providing financial support where their needs aren’t met.

“When veterans come back, it’s hard for them to get their feet on the ground,” said Bob Slocum. “We [started the memorial fund] so people don’t forget what Ricky and all the others from Afghanistan and Iraq did for us.”

Last year’s poker tournament raised $2,000 to assist returning veterans. Read more about last year’s tournament, click here.

The event is open to the public. Tournament check in and buffet dinner starts at 5:00 p.m. and the tournament begins at 6:00 p.m.

For more information about the tournament, please click here or call Bob Slocum at (661) 607-8288.

Slocum was one of  several Santa Clarita Valley residents who made that ultimate sacrifice since 9/11, in chronological order: Army Pfc. Robert Michael Wilson, Army Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, Army Sgt. Dean Glenn Todd Jr., Marine Lance Cpl. Richard P. Slocum, Army Pfc. Cole W. Larsen, Army Pfc. Jose Ricardo Flores-Mejia, Army Sgt. Dennis L. Sellen Jr., Army Spc. Stephen E. Colley, Army Sgt. John Michael Conant, Army Sgt. Ian Timothy D. Gelig, Marine Pfc. Jake W. Suter and Army Spc. Rudy A. Acosta.

– Mindy Lam