Honoring Wounded War Veterans

Transitioning into society after returning from war is said to be one of the hardest things to cope with.  Veteran, Robert Sparrow, says "returning veterans it's not easy for them."  Just ask Sparrow who returned from serving overseas a few years ago after getting hurt. He says "it's an honor to meet other wounded warriors and hear their stories and I don't feel alone."

It's events like the one in Woolrich Tuesday that help make the adjustment easier.  Vietnam War Veteran John Gall also finds meaning at these types of gathering.  He says, "it's like for us guys to have fun. Men and women that served, served honorably."

The Army National Guard flew in a black hawk helicopter with 2 generals aboard.  To the Woolrich conference center; there they recognized the efforts of 12 U.S. Veterans.  The Director of Woolrich Mill, Ron Yaton, says "this is important because, I like to hock it back to the days when I was in the service, we weren't recognized because the circumstances, no after 9/11 the nation realizes how important our men and women are that serve the country." 

Woolrich not only hosted the event, but they donated to a program called "The Mission Continues" that encourages veterans to volunteer.  "It makes me feel great that somebody, a local business like Woolrich, would do this. It shows their commitment to the community, to veterans in general," says Gall. Woolrich gave each of the 12 veterans an American flag blankets known as the "freedom throw".  The neat thing about the blanket is that when you buy one a portion of the proceeds goes to the wounded warrior project.