Vacations For Warriors
About Vacations For Warriors:
website: https://www.vacationsforwarriors.org/
Helping contribute to their mission:
Providing opportunities for our wounded heroes and their families to enjoy a brief respite from the challenges of their daily lives, to have an experience of a lifetime, and to reconnect.
Our nation's wounded warriors face challenges every day; emotionally, physically, financially, and more. Their family members and caretakers face constant stress too. Vacations for Warriors is committed to providing an opportunity for our heroes and their families to enjoy a brief respite from the challenges of their daily lives by offering them a vacation experience of a lifetime and an opportunity to reconnect.
About VFW's Vacations:
Since 2014, Vacations for Warriors has sent Wounded Warriors on "once in a lifetime" dream vacations to a variety of destinations such as Hawaii, Disney, cruises, and the Caribbean. Travel, lodging, activities, and even spending money are included; our Warriors pay nothing. On their vacations, Veterans and their families have participated in a variety of activities which build confidence in their abilities, including skydiving, zip lining, deep sea fishing, snuba diving, riding ATVs, and surfing. Warriors and their families get the pleasure of simply enjoying each other, reconnecting, and recharging.
Past Warriors:
Rob Easley is a veteran of the US Army. In 2012, he lost both legs and fingers on one hand while on mission in Afghanistan. We sent Rob and his wife Megan on a vacation for two weeks on the islands of Kauai, Maui and Oahu.
Greg Galeazzi was injured while on patrol in Afghanistan. He stepped on an IED and lost both legs and severely injured his arm. Greg has endured over 50 surgeries in his recovery. He chose to travel with his two brothers. Greg is now attending Harvard Medical School to become a doctor.
Alex Hussey, who was with the 82nd Airborne, was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2012 while on patrol. Alex lost both of his legs, fingers on both hands, and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Later, he married his high school sweetheart, Kim and we sent them on a honeymoon to Disneyland. Homes For our Troops built them a new home in Washington.
Greg Robinson was severely injured in Afghanistan resulting in the loss of his right leg. We sent Greg and his family on a vacation to the Dominican Republic. Recently, Greg who is still on active duty, qualified to stay in the Army by doing a timed 12 mile run and is now stationed in Germany.
James Merritt was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam. He came from a rough and poor background and has faced several challenges in his life. James has PTSD and now serves admirably as a peer counselor at the Denver VA Hospital. Vacations for Warriors sent James and his wife Bernita on a vacation for two weeks to the islands of Kauai, Maui and Oahu.
Ralph DeQuebec was a US Marine Corps Explosive Ordinance Disposal specialist serving in Afghanistan when his unit triggered an IED. Ralph lost both legs above the knee as a result of the blast. He and his wife Katie, also a veteran, traveled for two weeks on the islands of Kauai, Maui and Oahu. Ralph is currently playing for the US Paralympic Sled Ice Hockey team.
Tyler Wilson was a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne and deployed to Afghanistan. He was shot four times, with the first bullet paralyzing him from his mid-back down and the second nearly ending his life as it ripped through his lung and embedded in his liver. Tyler, his wife Crystal, and their new son enjoyed a Hawaiian vacation in 2017.
Dan Casara was injured in 2005 in Iraq when the tank he was riding in rolled over an anti-tank mine. Dan suffered multiple fractures to his legs and many other injuries. The explosion killed two of his buddies and injured four. Dan and his family vacationed in New York City. President Bush painted a picture of Dan in hisPortraits of Courage series.
Nick Eufrazio of Massachusetts suffered a traumatic brain injury when a grenade exploded near him--that grenade had been fallen on by fellow Marine CPL Kyle Carpenter, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Nick and our leadership team took a fishing trip to Maine. Nick is making steady progress in his recovery.
Joe Cosper has been deployed to Afghanistan and other hot spots during with the 82nd Airborne. Joe suffered several injuries while in the Army, but was most severely injured in a training jump in April 2008 at Ft. Bragg, NC. Joe, his wife, and daughter enjoyed a cruise to the Caribbean in 2017.
Joshua Revak of Anchorage, Alaska enlisted in the Army, 1st Armored Division. On his second deployment to Iraq, he was hit by two mortars while outside his tank in Ramadi, injuring both feet and ankles. Josh and his family received a vacation to Hawaii in 2017.
Jose Sanchez served with the New York National Guard for four months removing remains from Ground Zero after 9/11. Serving as an infantryman at 53 years old, Jose suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in Afghanistan and also suffers from PTSD. We sent Jose and his family on a Caribbean Cruise.
Daniel Fox joined the US Army in 2000. Like so many other servicemen, Daniel’s wounds are invisible. After an incredible seventeen deployments in fifteen years, Daniel suffered three traumatic brain injuries and has severe PTSD. Daniel, his wife and two daughters were able to enjoy the honeymoon they never had thanks to Vacations for Warriors.
For more information please visit Vacation For Warriors' Website Here.