Group building boats to help heal veterans
I believe that every blessing, opportunity and freedom we experience as Americans was born on the shoulders and with the blood, limbs and life of patriots - those valiant men and women who have forsaken the plowshare for the rifle and sword to defend, with their very life, this fragile experiment we call democracy.
These warriors who wore our nation’s uniforms in the face of death from Concord to Afghanistan deserve our love and respect and our willingness to give all that we can to assist them in their transition from the battlefield. We at Hand in Hand Outdoors are here each day to do what we can, in any way, aboard our small fleet of boats and on the river’s edge with the prayer that we can provide peace and healing, if only for that day.
With a small group of veterans to assist us, we have built another adaptive boat to accommodate these heroic veterans in wheelchairs. The boat and trailer were built from the ground up thanks to donations of necessary materials and hard-earned dollars from this wonderful community we live in.
The boat, christened “HOPE,” joined our small fleet to provide healing therapy to Utah’s disabled combat veterans and their families to reduce the effects of PTSD and traumatic brain injury and, hopefully, help reduce the numbers of suicide among these valiant warriors who have given so much to the cause of liberty.
This new outreach project, “American Heroes,” will focus on wounded and disabled warriors from the few remaining survivors of WWII until the current battle our nation is engaged in against those who scorn freedom and would force us to our knees, subjugated, to serve their ideology. Who could we serve that is more deserving?
A few months ago we completed the graphics and finished the installation of the specialized equipment that will allow those aboard with disabilities to share our love of the outdoors and find the peace that a day on the water brings. We thank God for being able to do this small thing and are filled with eternal gratitude to those of you who have assisted us along the way with our mission. Thank you. May God bring you the blessings you deserve.