The first time I ever heard the term military sexual trauma was when I was living with my future husband in Olympia, Washington in 2006. He was active duty Air Force stationed at McChord Air Force Base. I was a traditional National Guardsman. I had just transferred from a combat communications squadron in 2005 to a … More Paying It Forward Thanks to Army Specialist Suzanne Swift (2016)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock, typically involving disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the experience, with dulled responses to others and to the outside world. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has baffled my mind since first … More Coping with Complex PTSD: A Veteran’s Perspective (2016)
We hiked our third 400o footer in New Hampshire this past weekend. We went peak bagging and hiked the Carter Moriah Trail to the summit of Mount Surprise and Mount Moriah. The Carter Moriah trailhead is located in Gorham, N.H. We got up early because we knew that this one was going to take us … More Carter Moriah Trail, Mount Moriah, White Mountain National Forest, Gorham, New Hampshire (2015)
I learned from a friend that there is a 4000 Footer Club in New Hampshire. There are 48 total 4000 footer peaks and our first one was the Cannon Mountain summit (4,080-foot) via the Kinsman Ridge Trail. Cannon Mountain is a year round destination offering a ski resort in the winter and aerial tramway rides … More Kinsman Ridge Trail, Cannon Mountain, Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire (2015)
My husband and I are disabled US Air Force veterans. We signed up for the Wounded Warrior Project a little over a year ago. We both have benefited greatly from the experiences. We have focused mostly on self-improvement but this event was a little different. Wounded Warrior Project organized a couple hikes with the Appalachian Mountain … More Our Hiking Adventure with the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire (2015)
I was a hot mess before I got my service dog. I am so thankful I followed through on getting a service dog because she has changed my life significantly. I had tried everything and found myself sinker deeper and deeper into isolation and didn’t know how to fight it. I am a veteran with … More 15 Ways My K9s for Warriors Service Dog Has Helped Me (2015)
Shortly after my husband and I retired from the military in 2010, we treated ourselves to a couple of ATVs as a gift to ourselves. I got a Arctic Cat XC 450 and my husband got a Honda 700xx. We spent a lot of time on the trails and were thankful that we had an ATV … More ATVing at Jericho Mountain State Park in New Hampshire (2015)
I’ve always loved traveling. As a matter of a fact traveling was one of the things I loved about serving in the military. I couldn’t believe the places I got sent to train and work throughout the years. It was exciting to explore new places, meet new friends, and be a part of something bigger … More America’s National Parks Help Heal My CPTSD (2015)
Camaraderie is the spirit of friendship and community in a group, like the camaraderie of soldiers at war who keep each other upbeat despite the difficulty of their circumstances. Wounded Warrior Project has been a godsend in my life. It started with the first program I attended about a year ago and has only continued to get better. … More Wounded Warrior Project Helps Veterans Build Camaraderie (2015)
đź“Ť: Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site “All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River” -FDR This quote captures FDR’s connection to Springwood, the estate that he loved & the place he considered home. The first US Presidential Library was started by FDR here. … More Inside the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York (2015)
Jennifer and Lee 