Caring in Action: Wounded Warrior Project helps injured veterans

The Wounded Warrior Project was established to help America's veterans of recent conflicts who suffered injuries, physical or otherwise, in the course of serving their country.

With offices in 12 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Landstuhl, Germany, - including one in Chicago - as well as field staff at 11 locations, including six additional states, the organization seeks to reach as many Wounded Warriors as possible.

For more information about the WWP or to make a donation, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

To supplement information available at WWP's website, we spoke to Vesta Anderson, who works in Warrior Support:

Q: Can you give us a general overview of what the Wounded Warrior Project does?

A: Wounded Warrior Project is transforming the way America's injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities.

Since 2003, we've been tireless advocates for our nation's finest, improving the lives of millions of warriors and their families. Warriors never pay a penny for our programs - because they paid their dues on the battlefield.

Our free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. We're committed to helping injured veterans achieve their highest ambitions. When they're ready to start their next mission, we stand ready to serve.

Q: How was the organization founded?

A: It was founded in 2003 in Roanoke, Virginia, by a group of veterans and friends who took action to help the injured servicemen and women of this generation.

Q: Who does Wounded Warrior Project help?

A: The WWP mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors who incurred a physical or mental injury, illnesses or wound coincident to their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. You may also be eligible for the program if you are the family member or caregiver of a Wounded Warrior.

WWP began as a small, grass-roots effort to provide immediate assistance when a warrior of this generation was injured. We felt we could do the most good by providing more comprehensive programs and services to the newly injured, rather than spread ourselves too thin by trying to help all veterans.

We also knew there were many terrific veterans' organizations for warriors from previous conflicts, but very few focused on serving our newest generation.

Q: How can a Wounded Warrior get involved?

A: Sign up online for our WWP Alumni program at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/alumni.

WWP calls injured service members who get involved "Alumni." The term indicates a mutual shared experience and denotes that your place in an organization was earned.

It's free to join. Throughout the year, we offer a wide range of events and activities around the country designed just for Alumni. These activities include sporting events, educational sessions and social events that give individuals a chance to spend time with other injured service members.

Alumni can also participate in many WWP activities and events for injured service members.

Q: How does WWP help people?

A: WWP provides more than 20 programs and services to injured service members and their families, in addition to numerous valuable resources. Offerings are categorized by Mind, Body, Economic Empowerment and Engagement, and include health and fitness coaching; combat stress recovery retreats; a mental health network; career counseling and job search assistance; VA benefits counseling; and the Independence Program, designed to help warriors suffering from moderate-to-severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, or neurological conditions take positive steps toward independent living. For details, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.

Q: Tell us the story of someone who was helped by WWP.

A: Dan Miller says he doesn't see his life experiences as being his story. He prefers to call it his history.

"We are all a product of our own personal histories," Dan said. "The first step in really understanding a person or a subject is to understand the truth behind that history."

Dan's history began in Chicago, and for as long as he can remember he wanted to be in the military. Throughout his military career with the U.S. Marine Corps, Dan served in many roles and deployed numerous times, including Desert Storm and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he retired in May 2015, he had given 29 years of service to his country; five years on active duty and 24 years as a reservist. He also worked as a police officer for 21 years and retired from the force in June 2015.

Dan will be the first to tell you that he loved serving in the Marines and fighting for his country, but the years took their toll.

"When you see the destruction, the lives lost, the sacrifices, and the suffering, it changes you. But when it was happening, I didn't have time to process it. So I buried it. I had to, because there was always the next mission, the next rocket or improvised explosive device, the next danger to prevent or avoid. Those experiences can't stay buried forever."

After his retirement, doctors diagnosed Dan with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The urge to quit entered Dan's mind and he contemplated ending his life. Amazingly, a brochure for Wounded Warrior Project interrupted his suicide attempt.

"It was on the seat beside me, and on the cover was a picture of a warrior who had lost his legs; yet, he was still working out in a gym. If he could do that, how could I give up? I wasn't going to deny my problems anymore. I called WWP and, fast forward to today, they've helped me keep my family together and continue to make my history."

Dan's message to his fellow warriors is a message of hope.

"I will pick you up and put you on my shoulder. We will move forward together. If I begin to falter, another veteran will come along and help us both. Together, we will reach our place of love and safety. Because we are, and always will be, family."

Q: What's your next upcoming event in the Chicago/Illinois area?

A: Each year, Chicago hosts wounded warriors from across the nation during the following two events:

• Chicago Air & Water Show: More than 50 warriors and their families are honored with VIP treatment in Chicago through this event, which includes canoeing and kayaking opportunities. It brings warriors together and re-connects them with other warrior families and Chicago community members (including emergency response teams).

• Soldier Ride Chicago: Nearly 60 warriors from Illinois and across the country hit Chicago streets in what has become one of the most celebrated injured veteran cycling rides across the nation. The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride program uses modified equipment and riding techniques to reintroduce the love of cycling to veterans with visible and invisible injuries. While helping warriors overcome physical, mental and emotional wounds through adaptive exercise, Soldier Ride also restores the unique bonds of military service to the recovery process. Reconnecting warriors to one another in the civilian world is critical to healing. This is why WWP is dedicated to ensuring every injured veteran supports each other in recovery, thus, embodying the WWP logo of one warrior carrying another off the battlefield.

In December and January, the following Wounded Warrior Project campaigns will take place in Illinois:

• Couples Mental wellness workshop in Chicago, happening right now. Mental wellness workshops (also known as Project Odysseys) are a 90-day mental health program that begin with a three-day workshop to help military couples learn skills to strengthen connections alongside a loved one, and continues with three months of follow-ups and support. See more: www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/combat-stress-recovery-program/project-odyssey.

• Second Annual Holiday Give Back to Wounded Warriors, which took place Dec. 19, in which the local community supports warriors during holidays at Brookfield Zoo.

• Grassy Lake Annual Wounded Warrior Duck Hunt in Jonesboro.

• Second City Improv Class in Chicago.

• Gingerbread Making family connection event in Rockford.

• Family Date Night in Chicago.

• Family Healthy Cooking class in Joliet.

Q: What's usually your biggest fundraising event of the year?

A: The Wounded Warrior Project Courage Awards and Benefits Dinner. The next dinner will take place May 7, 2020, at Gotham Hall in New York City. For information, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org/courage-awards.

Q: How can people who want to help out donate or volunteer?

A: There are so many different ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are a few ideas:

• Volunteer. Call your local VA Medical Center and ask about volunteer opportunities.

• Advocate for wounded service members. Call or write your congressional representatives or senators and urge them to make injured service members a legislative priority. Keep your ears open, too, on the WWP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wwp for advocacy alerts with opportunities to sign petitions, write letters and more.

• Help raise awareness. Even the simplest efforts can make a difference. Help spread the word about the needs of wounded service members and the work of WWP in your home community. If you know an injured service member who might benefit from WWP's services, urge them to get involved - it's free!

• Consider a financial gift. If you're in a position to do so, financial contributions are always greatly appreciated. Perhaps you might even host a fundraising event with your friends to benefit warriors.

• Honor service members. If you know a service member, thank them for their service and sacrifices. These small gestures mean so much.

• You can show your support for veterans by shopping with companies that support Wounded Warrior Project. For a list, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org/shop.