"When you are on a three day mission in full battle gear in over 120 degree heat under a blistering sun, and people are shooting at you, you begin to wonder if Americans Care."
" You guys answered that question for me."
25 combat veteran Marines, many wounded, came to our
community in Keowee Key SC for some rest and relaxation (R&R).
We plan to repeat the privilege of
The Marines and Their Families
Because of the event we have established a relationship between members of our community and the Marines who visited. Several of those Marines have returned to our community, some with their wives and children.
Roger C Peace Rehabilitation Hospital (RCP)
Additionally, a severely injured Marine was sent to our partner Roger C Peace Rehabilitation Hospital (RCP) for a month, and the two communities provided an enhanced rehabilitation experience. The Marine was cared for at RCP by several of the same therapists and nurses he met at the summer event. Community volunteers also assured that social needs were met during the event. The result was remarkable and the Marine's physical progress exceeded expectations.
More Communities Could Participate
While our community has a lot of advantages in hosting the event, we are not unique. We believe there are many other communities who can host such an event and let our servicemen know that we value their service and consider their sacrifice to be important. Whatever your attitude to the wars in which we are now engaged, remember that the men and women who engage America's enemies do so under the direction of our civilian government - they do not choose their wars. They are young men and women who have volunteered to serve and they deserve our recognition, because they are true American Heroes.
Relationships Established
Marines Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
The Marines who visited Keowee Key communicated to their commanding general that the event was an enormous help to them as they attempted to reintegrate with society. In a subsequent debriefing with those Marines, the commander of the Marines Special Operations Command (MARSOC) expressed the wish that more of his Marines might have a similar opportunity.
Other Communities
After that debriefing, a task force of our community and MARSOC Marines developed a plan to provide assistance to other communities who would like to join us in partnering with MARSOC to help Marines returning from combat deployment in their efforts to reintegrate with civilian society.
mingling with true American Heroes annually. We believe we got much more from the experience than they did.
2009 Summer Event in Keowee Key, SC
