Welcome
Dear Friends of the National Center for Healthy Veterans at Valor Farm,
We will soon commemorate Memorial Day 2023. Consider Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
“… It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Our message on Memorial Day 2023 is simple and similar: We as a nation honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. For the family who has lost a loved one in the military, every day is Memorial Day. Perhaps that should be true for all of us — every day is an opportunity to honor the fallen and give thanks for the living who continue to serve.
May 2023 is also “Mental Health Awareness Month.” Our country is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. The crisis isn’t just affecting adults, it is devastating young people, and people from every background including our beloved Veterans are impacted. NCHV’s healing platform at Valor Farm and helpful programs move Veterans from mental health challenges (including the impact of military trauma such as PTSD, mTBI, Moral Injury, and other conditions) to Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Emotional and Relational WELLNESS. An example is the Patriot Resilience Curriculum, discussed in Diving Deeper, which teaches Patriots to navigate adversity, escape toxic emotions, learn from life’s experiences, and grow in preparation for future challenges and opportunities.
Here’s a preview of the content below:
- Plays of the Day – Valor Farm staff additions, Pole Barn Renovations, and new Patriot arrival
- Meet the Team – Incoming NCHV Chief of Staff, Brenda Swartz
- Diving Deeper – Patriot Resilience Curriculum
- In The Media – Jake Corwin on Living in the Heart of Virginia, Volunteer Shout Out by Bob Dees
- Prayer Points – Massing God’s artillery on behalf of Veterans, America, and the world.
These are exciting days at the National Center for Healthy Veterans. We are quickly achieving Excellence of Veteran Care that equals the Excellence of Infrastructure which we have developed over the past two years – and it is happening as God and generous donors are helping us bring the right expertise onto our team.
Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and tangible support!
Blessings to each of you,
Robert F. Dees
Major General, U.S. Army, Retired
NCHV President & CEO
YOUR encouragement and generosity
have made these amazing things happen at Valor Farm. We certainly welcome and need your further support on behalf of Returning Healthy Veterans to America!
Join our Healthy Veterans Community!
Plays of the Day
- Brenda Swartz- NCHV Chief of Staff
- Rebecca Bell- Licensed Professional Counselor and Patriot Care Director
- Aaron and Victoria Blaine- Missional Family
- Sean Quigley- Physical and Certified Recreational Therapist
Lancaster County’s Quarry View came down this last month for a weekend to help with the ongoing renovations of our Pole Barn. Once finished, the Pole Barn will serve as the main hub for farming operations going forward. This is where all farming production will take place and where we are able to process and clean produce grown here at Valor Farm as well as the eggs from our chickens. There will be walk-in fridges and freezers to store pork and beef products as well as housing for all the feed for the animals.
New Patriot Arrival
A new Patriot started a new chapter of life at Valor Farm on 5.24.23. We welcome Anthony whose housewarming was attended by Valor Farm staff, as well as his parents and his 102-year-old grandmother who was a WAC in World War II. It was a special day to welcome Anthony, meet his supportive family, and start his NCHV Patriot journey together.
In The Media
Meet The Team
NCHV Chief of Staff
We welcome Brenda Swartz as the NCHV Chief of Staff. It has clear God has prepared her for this role for decades. With years of U.S. Army Family Readiness experience, (helping military families navigate the toughest of times in war and peace), along with expertise in business administration, public speaking, and training both military and civilians; Brenda and her husband SFC(ret) Jay Swartz (Purple Heart, Bronze Star recipient) started Warrior Family Ministries in 2015, a non-profit providing hope for the families of our heroes. This includes Chaplain-led programs (over 200 highly trained Chaplains in the WFM network now) and assistance to restore the family unit, providing free counseling and workforce solutions. Already many experienced and motivated Chaplains from her WFM network are providing highly expert assistance to NCHV operations.
In her role as NCHV Chief of Staff, Brenda will provide overarching leadership to our staff and will apply her significant expertise to our finance, personnel, business, and Veteran engagement programs. She will also leverage her extensive military and Veteran care network on behalf of the Veterans we serve. For instance, Brenda serves on the Board of Advisors of the Armed Services Ministry of the American Bible Society.
NCHV is blessed to have such a talented and professional leader join our team.
Diving Deeper
Our Patriots are currently navigating the Resilience God Style© Curriculum. Each Patriot discusses video content on Monday mornings and participates in mid-week Review on Wednesday mornings, guided by the Resilience God Style book, study guide, and staff facilitators.
The basic model is the Resilience Life Cycle© shown below. In essence, how do we PREPARE (BEFORE) for the storms of life? How do we WEATHER the storms of life (DURING), hiding under the shelter of God’s wings until the destruction passes by? How do we “bounce back” from trauma (AFTER) without getting stuck in the toxic emotions of guilt, false guilt, anger, and bitterness. Then, how do we Learn & Adapt, recognizing that “hurricane season” comes around again and again. Each of the phases described has subcomponents (tools) which help the participant recover from various trauma and mental health challenges and get ready for the next ones. In essence, we teach them a life system for recovering from trauma and living a resilient lifestyle.
As with other Patriot curriculum elements, the Resilience God Style curriculum is Biblically based. The diagram below shows the seminal verse regarding resilience in the Bible – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. In essence, we are all sometimes troubled, in doubt, facing many enemies, and badly hurt… BUT NOT… crushed, in despair, without a friend, destroyed. This is the essence of true Resilience – often failing or falling in our frailty, BUT NOT down for the count. The metaphorical question is simply: Are we a TENNIS BALL (ready and resilient) or an EGG (fragile and fractured)? The good news is this curriculum helps our Patriots, and all of us, become Resilient – God Style!
The diagram below shows this graphically:
For more Resilience information and tools, go to www.ResilienceGodStyle.com.
Prayer Points
- We are grateful to God and others that our first Veteran village is now complete! Pray that the Patriots that will soon occupy these houses will lean into change, grow, and get back on track to help America.
- Internationally, together we uplift the people of Ukraine in this tragic hour. May God guide you, protect you, and hide you under the shelter of His wings as the destruction passes by.
- Pray that the work of the National Center for Healthy Veterans would rapidly advance to provide help, hope, and healing for our nation’s Veterans and their families.
- Join us in praising God for the beauty of His Creation at Valor Farm — horses, rivers, cattle, valleys, chickens, the fruit of the land, the beauty of the fields, the wonder of His Creation.
- Join us in praising God for the amazing Army of NCHV volunteers, a multitude of generous supporters, and faithful staff.
- Pray that God would steady the hand of the 22 Veterans a day that are considering ending their lives.
- Without mentioning specifics, pray for the many Veterans and their families in our midst who have financial issues, health crises, relational dysfunction, and suffer from mental and emotional challenges. May God bring wellness to Veterans throughout the land.
- Pray that God will provide laborers and resources to “Return Healthy Veterans to America,” and may these Healthy Veterans provide unique contributions to America as role models, parents, educators, coaches, business professionals, and societal role models.
Calendar
Weekly Schedule & Upcoming Events
- Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Scheduled Tours
Email contact@healthyveterans.org if interested. - Thursdays: Community Campfire at Valor Farm 6pm
Come join us for fellowship! - Saturdays: Volunteer Saturdays (1st and 3rd)
Email volunteer@healthveterans.org - Memorial Day May 28, 2023
