Cornell's Naval ROTC will host the first "Out of the Rubble" gala to support Liberty Lodge, a retreat for injured veterans, Oct. 9 from 4 to 9 p.m. in Barton Hall.

The gala will include dinner and a live auction, with items to be auctioned including a four-person African safari, various hunting trips, tickets to a Lady Gaga concert in Miami, paintings, quilts and more.

Proceeds benefit Liberty Lodge, a Locke, N.Y., retreat for military servicemen and women, firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics injured on duty. Founded by retired National Guardsman and State Trooper Kevin Workman and his wife, Cornell administrative assistant Amy Layton, the retreat offers an all-expenses-paid respite with 1,000 acres for outdoor sports, along with the understanding of others who have had similar experiences.

"It soothes the soul," Workman said in a video about the lodge. "We just want them to feel comfortable and know we care about them."

Workman and Layton opened the lodge last year after Workman sustained injuries in Iraq and returned to his hometown to heal. The lodge -- actually the couple's home -- has hosted 35 veterans so far; they intend to expand and add a dedicated lodge that is handicapped-accessible.

Tickets must be purchased in advance; visit http://www.outoftherubblegala.com/ for information.