Week of Valor: Veterans & military members are Jacksonville community’s backbone

3 years ago 240

A dedication ceremonial was held Friday astatine a Cecil Field Chapel kicking disconnected the Week of Valor

Kent Justice here. As we caput into what the metropolis of Jacksonville has called the Week of Valor, Sunday’s “This Week successful Jacksonville” volition absorption connected issues facing veterans.

I americium passionate, arsenic you know, astir covering our subject and the veterans successful our community.

Among my guests volition beryllium Erin Fletcher, the warrior attraction web manager astatine Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). I’m besides speaking with Lawrence Chandler, a U.S. Army seasoned who lives successful Mandarin and participated successful a programme that conscionable received an further $25 cardinal investment. WWP expanded intelligence wellness attraction to see substance usage upset -- thing Chandler told maine changed and saved his life.

“They encouraged maine to participate their Home Base programme successful Boston, their two-week intensive program, and it was 1 of the champion decisions I’ve ever made successful my life, too for marrying my wife,” Chandler said. “It truly changed my beingness from, I came from beauteous acheronian position earlier I ever linked up with Wounded Warrior Project.”

“The Warrior Care Network helped maine beryllium contiguous with my household again and bask life,” helium continued.

I’ll besides talk with retired Army Col. Bill Cousins. This seasoned has been a person successful Jacksonville’s Navy League. It’s unprecedented!

“I’m not sure, I could beryllium the lone Army feline who’s ever been president of a Navy League Council, but I was calved successful a Navy municipality and raised determination successful Norfolk, Virginia,” Cousins said. “A batch of my household were Navy, truthful I talk the language.”

“You know, the Army (and) Navy person a batch of differences,” helium continued. “However, we bash person 1 extremity successful communal and that is the defence of the United States of America.”

TWIJ is besides focusing connected an lawsuit coming up to bid religion leaders astir the needs of subject members. Retired Brigadier Gen. Mike Fleming from the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic astatine Centerstone tells me, “I truly consciousness similar the veterans and their families crook to religion leaders for assistance and guidance and we privation to supply grooming and consciousness to these religion leaders to let them to assistance and bash much for their veterans and subject families successful their location of worship.”

Joining Fleming is the Rev. Eric Wester, chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

You tin ticker the afloat interviews with each of our guests on This Week successful Jacksonville at 9 a.m. Sunday connected Channel 4 and astatine noon Sunday connected CW17.