Auction for Post Malone guitar helps more than a dozen Utah veterans
Oct 24, 2023, 6:04 PM | Updated: Oct 27, 2023, 10:48 pm
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — He would rather not get any attention. Would rather the cameras point away from him.
But when it comes to helping veterans, Chris Nelson figured, why not?
“My father served in Vietnam. So, he was in Vietnam and he passed away last year,” he said. “So, we have done things over the years to support veterans.”
Nelson did something to really help veterans today. Thanks to his donation, several veterans will be able to go on the Utah Honor Flight.
It is a program that brings veterans to Washington DC to see the memorials of the wars they helped fight, like the Vietnam Wall, which Nelson’s dad was able to visit.
“He did make it to the wall,” Nelson said.
Nelson did this by winning an auction for a guitar signed by musician Post Malone. He paid $15,500.
“This will absolutely help our missions,” said Stephanie Harmon, who is the director of Utah Honor Flight. “Each veteran is about a thousand dollars per person, so this is going to be around 15 veterans that are going to be able to go back and see their memorials.”
Post Malone lives in Cottonwood Heights and donated one of his guitars to the police department.
Post Malone’s guitar auctioned off (Mark Wetzel, KSL TV)
Cottonwood Heights Police Chief Robbie Russo has developed a friendship with the Malone family and presented Nelson with the guitar Tuesday afternoon at the police department.
“Something that he did specifically for the Honor Flight program so that we could honor our veterans and the sacrifices they made,” said Russo while handing the guitar over.
Nelson doesn’t even play guitar. Neither do his kids, really.
However, he has been to some of Post Malone’s concerts, is a fan, and is planning on going to a Post Malone concert in Australia in the coming months.
“He’s genuine. I just like his music,” Nelson said.
So, when Nelson saw the police department start this auction last month, it was a combination of everything he enjoys.
“Honoring the veterans is definitely the key here,” said Nelson.
Which, even for him, is worth plenty of attention.
“I travel a lot for work and I will come home and I will see the bands out there and all the people out there,” he said. “So, you do definitely see it if you pass through the Salt Lake airport, so it is very good to see.”
