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What A Weekend ! AHERO ’ s 2nd Annual Orange Beach Warrior Hook-Up
By Stacey Paden Bruntlett
I spent three days in early May this year enjoying and photographing the people and activities at AHERO ’ s 2nd Annual Orange Beach Warrior Hook-Up … and therefore amongst some of America ’ s finest . It was all still really hard to take in as I drove home afterward , and I was left knowing it might take me days to “ download ” it all from my head to heart , and to process things .
The event was four days and concluded in a worship service on Sunday morning followed by conversational time . During those days , Veterans fished deep waters in the Gulf , learned about meditation and yoga , and participated in activities like parasailing , a dolphin cruise , beach time , and golfing . They rode the Ferris wheel , wrote songs with professional musicians and songwriters , rode their Harleys , and / or enjoyed a relaxing time by the pool . FRIDAY
Early morning : Colonel Doug King , USMC ( Ret ), taught Veterans with PTSD the basic steps to meditation . This includes breathing , stretching , and developing core strength . I ’ ve never seen so many men doing yoga , especially not rough-and-tough military guys ! But when a retired colonel says sit you sit , and when he says “ shoulders back ” and “ deep breath in ” … well , you get the picture .
I saw a man with great “ heart ” continuing to give back to his country by investing in those who signed up to defend her and took big hits for doing so . I witnessed how this colonel ’ s heart spoke so much louder and stronger than his stern expression conveyed . You ’ ll enjoy the Colonel ’ s full article in this issue on how finding yoga changed his life .
Another extraordinary attendee at the event was Traci Solt , director of VA Clinical Services in Pensacola . Traci serves our Veterans every single day . We are thankful for her encouraging presence at the Weekend , and for her support of AHERO . Traci ’ s letter thanking all for the invite to the event was so endearing , we put it on our pages for all to read .
Our Orange Beach Warrior Hook-Up gang ( appropriately ) aboard the Hook ' em Up
AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 63