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General News: Wounded Warriors on the Hudson
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| Congressman Hall took his photo with some of veterans. |
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| The veterans were eager to get into the kayaks, which were donated by SKAT. |
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| They paddled into the Hudson. |
October 13, 2009
Cold rain pelted the kayaks lined up on the bank of the Hudson River on Friday but it did not dampen the spirits of sixteen military veterans who were ready for an outing with members of Storm King Adventure Tours (SKAT), which provided the kayaks at no charge.
U.S. Congressman John Hall came down to Cornwall Landing to talk with the veterans before they boarded the kayaks. Hall, a member of the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, told the vets that he recently had breakfast with the new head of the VA, General Eric Shenseki, a Vietnam vet who rehabbed in a veteran’s hospital after he was injured on the battlefield. “It’s a new world,” Hall said, referring to the Shinseki’s approach to improving services for veterans.
The kayakers came from both the Warriors in Transition unit at West Point and the rehabilitation unit at the VA hospital in Montrose, New York. Seventy five wounded or ill Army soldiers are currently recuperating at West Point, awaiting their return to duty.
The group from Montrose included older veterans who were either homeless or suffering from addictions and entered the post-traumatic stress unit for treatment. “These are homeless vets who lost their jobs and came to the VA to find employment and housing,” explained Peter Dinoff, a recreation therapist who accompanied the men, “the program helps them back into society.”
Bernard Jankowsky, who served in the army in 1976, says he was in a car accident and couldn’t do his job, leading to a downward spiral. “For me, the VA has been a godsend,” he said, “I plan to become an x-ray technician, go back to school with some money from the GI Bill.”
Before the crew headed out, guide Brian Sarvis gave them some pointers about the kayaks. SKAT director Kris Seiz told the men that General Petraeus, who was in town the previous evening, had hoped to come down to the riverfront but was unable to. He did send each of the men a medal that they received enthusiastically before jumping into their kayaks and pushing off into the misty morning.
Comments:
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God bless you veterans. I wish you all the best.
Good job SKAT.
posted by J Klein on 10/14/09 at 12:51 PM
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