Or
they are veterans, returned from war, making the adjustment to civilian life
after battle.
All
are physically injured, wounded in combat, dealing with a wide spectrum of
injuries. Some are missing limbs or have severe burns from roadside bombs. Many
of them are leading new chapters in their lives with some form of
post-traumatic stress
But thanks to the volunteer efforts of the community, 10 soldiers and veterans from the Four Corners area will be treated to a unique kind of vacation next month.disorder.
The
wounded warriors will fish at Quality Waters near Navajo Lake, take in a couple
of Connie Mack World Series games, hit the hills for off-road rock crawling,
travel on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado, see the
Bar D Wranglers in Durango, Colo., and be celebrated during a local parade. The
week is sponsored by Four Corners Warriors Extreme Adventure, which is part of
Crossroads Community Church.
The
trip, paid for with donations from around the community, covers the veterans'
airfare, meals, lodgings and expenses.
Started
last year, the trip is an all-volunteer effort with no administrative costs,
said Bill Simkins, coordinator for the warriors vacation and member of
Crossroads.
"It
all started with a question I asked a friend, 'Wouldn't it be nice to take some
wounded warriors fishing?'" Simkins said. "And it's just grown from
there to a real once-in-a-lifetime event for these warriors."
Simkins
is veteran himself who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, though he never saw
combat.
"But
this is about them," he said of the wounded warriors. "To give them,
the wounded warriors, a lift, something special for their service."
Simkins
has received a lot of support from across San Juan County to make the event
possible.
Recently,
he was surprised to learn that a newly formed junior civitan group had selected
the wounded warriors to receive the proceeds from a yard sale at the Veterans
of Foreign Wars post in Aztec. At the club's last meeting, Simkins was
presented with a check for $506 for the warriors.
"We
all picked the wounded warriors because it's a good cause," said Taylor
Henson, 13, vice president of the Helpful Heroes Junior Civitan Club. "I
feel really good about what we did. We just want to make a difference."
Henson
and 15 others junior civitans will also purchase, prepare and serve lunch to
the veterans during their visit.
Simkins
was especially touched by the young civitans' acknowledgement and help for the
veterans.
"More often than
people realize, military folks get out of service and they just
disappear," he said. "This effort is all for them, 100 percent."
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