Friday March 29th, 2024 9:49AM

Veterans to spend the weekend on Lake Lanier

GAINESVILLE - A group of injured service members are spending the weekend on Lake Lanier.
 
Director of Programs of Freedom Alliance Pepper Ailor said the group of two Marines and two Soldiers are coming up to relax and have a little fun.
 
"We're spending Thursday through Sunday at the lake house of one of our board members," said Ailor. "We're going to be doing a little water sports, a little jet skiing, water skiing possibly and some tubing around the lake. It's recreational but also has some therapeutic stress release for them."
 
Board member Rita Scott came up with the idea a few years back, Ailor said, and they've hosted veterans and service members that just need a break for three years now.
 
"David and Rita Scott, they've been big time supporters of our military for a long time," said Ailor. "She had approached me and said 'We want to open up our home,' and told us what she had. So we went down there and had our first group about three years ago."
 
“We are honored to be able to provide vacations to our American heroes over the years,” said Rita. “We are incredibly grateful for their dedication to and sacrifice for our country and we are thankful for the opportunity to give back and to ensure their time here is memorable.”
 
A release from the non-profit said outdoor therapies provide the restorative care and rehabilitation needed for men and women returning home with combat-related injuries ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, to amputations and more.
 
"We've got a small group of guys who have had the same of experiences. Some can be very traumatic experiences, and what happens is they relive that camaraderie they have with each other, they open up, they tell things they may not tell a spouse or therapist, and good things happen," said Ailor.
 
The non-profit hosts events across the country each year to support wounded veterans and their families and these trips offer the opportunity to heal while building friendships and bonding with soldiers undergoing similar methods of healing.
  • Associated Categories: Local/State News, Georgia News
  • Associated Tags: lake lanier, military, Freedom Alliance
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