Welcome
Dear Friends of the National Center for Healthy Veterans,
Our theme for this month’s newsletter is simply TRANSITION. As we enter the Fall season we are reminded of the transition from Summer as we observe the golden tint appearing on some of the Valor Farm hardwoods. As well, TRANSITION is key to our mission – helping Veterans transition from wounded to well, becoming Healthy Veterans that can give back to America in unique ways to apply their gifts, experiences, and character as business leaders, educators, coaches, entrepreneurs, healthy parents, and societal role models. This is why we at NCHV do what we do – help Veterans become healthy and launch Healthy Veterans into an America which needs them more than ever before! This is tactically and personally relevant to the Veterans we serve and strategically important to the nation we love.
Related to Transitions at Valor Farm, you will enjoy reading the segment below on PLAYS OF THE DAY which includes a housewarming for a new Patriot and two house dedications honoring the donor and the distinguished persons they have chosen to dedicate their house to. This is an important way to “Honor those to whom honor is due.” (Romans 12:12)
In MEET THE TEAM, you will get to know one of our great Corporate Supporters from WALMART, Market Manager of Southwest Virginia, Jade White.
For DIVING DEEPER, we will focus on how we help Veteran families, a critical ingredient in long-term success. Most of our Veterans have significant family challenges, some of which can be resolved through mediation, reconciliation, and education. To do this, our NCHV Master Plan includes a Healthy Veteran Family Lodge and Counseling Center (we have just broken ground!) to facilitate the family healing process.
Wrapping up, we provide PRAYER priorities which undergird our entire efforts at the NCHV. Regrettably, I empathize that while Veteran suicide statistics vary widely from the VA to private research efforts (daily estimates ranging from 17 to 64 per day, respectively), even the most conservative statistics are tragically high. We must PRAY and ACT to stop this Veteran suicide epidemic in America.
To close, I express gratitude to the many hands who are making light work at Valor Farm – staff, volunteers, Patriots and Veterans, and donors who are faithful to provide resources to fight this noble and urgent fight. We have extremely important work to do. Together with God’s guidance and provision, we can and must do this for our Veterans and for America!
Respectfully,
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
HOUSEWARMING:
The Valor Farm Family is pleased to welcome Patriot Kevin to his new home at Valor Farm. Note picture: Kevin is wrapped in his new Lancaster County quilt as he receives both gifts and prayers for his future here at Valor Farm.
HOUSE DEDICATIONS:
The Valor Farm home dedications provide present and future Patriots with a constant reminder of the valor and service of those who have gone before.
NCHV was honored to host the LaPrade Family dedication of their donated tiny home to Mr. James LaPrade Sr. Mr. LaPrade traveled the world as a radioman serving his country on the USS Dupont. Post military career he put his never quit attitude to work becoming a successful veteran entrepreneur starting BMS Direct, a business that continues to thrive fifty years later.
The Stokes-Sapp family dedicated their donated tiny home in loving memory to honor both Davis Lee Stokes, Jr. who served in the Army Air Corps in WWII as well as Kenneth Eudon Sapp who was a United States Army Veteran who served in Vietnam.
During their time at Valor Farm, our Patriots will use symbols of remembrance such as these dedication plaques to help prepare them to return to their communities as Healthy Veterans giving back to America.
Here is an example of such a dedication:
The Stokes-Sapp House
Davis Lee Stokes, Jr. (August 8, 1924 – July 10, 1987) United States Army Air Corps (WWII)
and
Kenneth Eudon Sapp (March 24, 1947 – November 20, 2014) United States Army (Vietnam)
by
Allison Stokes Sapp & Michael Neil Sapp, Sr.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
Meet The Team
We are deeply thankful to the over 250 businesses that have made our young movement so very powerful. Today our focus is on the great efforts at Walmart.
Jade White is the WALMART Market Manager of Southwest Virginia. Jade is pictured here volunteering with Walmart employees at Valor Farm. He and his leaders/stores across this part of Virginia are quite committed to our effort at the National Center for Healthy Veterans at Valor Farm. Together they have led employee volunteer events, supported many interactions with store leaders, and also provided opportunities to get involved in information campaigns and donor opportunities at regional stores.
Walmart HQ executives have also visited the Farm and had in-depth conversations with managers on leadership lessons they have learned. To their great credit, the Walmart Foundation also donated the value of one tiny home that is soon to be dedicated in their honor.
It is this kind of engagement by Americas Corporations, Communities, Campuses, and Churches that makes this endeavor so very rewarding and meaningful; not just to us, but to the thousands of employees that witness such commitment.
Diving Deeper
Over 90% of our Patriots are experiencing broken marriages Family fracture is also one of the primary contributing factors to Veteran suicide. Some of you may have seen recent social media posts of us clearing the land for the Family Lodge at Valor Farm. While we are just getting started and developing our building plans, it is one of our most important missions! We have come to realize that “If we don’t get it right with the Veterans family, we don’t get it right with the Veteran.” While we can’t always save a marriage, we can help set the conditions for parental teamwork on behalf of the children involved. As its primary purpose, the Family Lodge (with associated counseling capabilities) will help mediate, reconcile, and reunite Veteran families. This is also where we will help educate intact families on becoming stronger and more resilient, as well as teaching parenting skills which are so critical to family success. Along with this primary function, the Family Lodge will house families who periodically come to visit their Patriots in the residential program at Valor Farm.
As well, the Family Lodge will provide much-needed temporary lodging for transient Veterans experiencing crisis of various forms. We have many new Veterans coming to the farm asking for help. The one commonality is that they are in severe need, driven largely by a family break-up and a sudden loss of their home. The effect is devastating. They are young Veterans that should be feeling great hope and excitement for the future. Instead, they have lost their family, home, and have suffered at work, often causing the loss of their profession. At present, we temporarily house these struggling Veterans with NCHV friendly local hotels to stabilize their condition. While these interim stopgap measures are very helpful, the NCHV Family Lodge will provide crisis counselling, safety, and security among fellow Veterans, leading to longer term solutions and success.
Part of “Returning Healthy Veterans to America” includes healthy families. Please pray for our rapid progress on this very important Family Lodge project, as well as the upcoming fundraising campaign for this purpose.
Prayer Points
- 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 a 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 influencers.
Calendar
- Mon-Fri: Daily Devotions with Staff, Patriots, Volunteers, and Friends of Valor Farm
- Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Scheduled Tours
please contact Dianarider@healthyveterans.org if interested.
Thursdays: Community Campfire at Valor Farm 6pm
Come join us for fellowship!
Upcoming Events:
- October 1, 2022: Out of the Darkness Walk, Suicide Awareness Foundation, Lynchburg
- November 11, 2022: 3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration at Valor Farm and Concert, 4 p.m.
