Hero Highlight – Travis Snyder
How far would you go to bring attention to a cause? More to the point - how far would you walk? Travis Synder found that answer as he grieved the death of a fellow veteran. "In April of 2019, my
Dealing With Despair
By Hannah Bouwmeester Some of the prevailing mental health issues Veterans and others of us deal with today are depression, PTSD, despair, survivor’s guilt, or other negative emotional states. People generally deal with these states more and more in our argumentative,
June 27: National PTSD Awareness Day
By E. Malik PTSD or Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition experienced by veterans and non-veterans, and it has a lasting impact on those who are suffering. National PTSD awareness day is celebrated on the 27th of June every year. This
The Transition to Civilian Life
By Michael Roof - Director Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs. Throughout the military’s discharge process, service members sit in a class focused on providing resources to assist with their transition to civilian life. Unfortunately, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) usually falls short
B.A.M. – Mindset Motivation
Written By Brad Giglio - Owner/Coach Crossfit Due North (Army Veteran) B.A.M.! Just like that, we are five months into 2021! Are you still motivated with your intention or resolution made in the new year? Or did the plan fall to
Honoring Military Caregivers
March was Honor Military Caregivers Month, but here at GATHER Veterans we realize that honoring military caregivers should happen all year round!! Imagine this
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
By Amanda Renkiewicz - Photos from the Traverse City Out of the Darkness Walk Coordinators It’s a shocking fact: each year, suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined. Despite that, funding for prevention efforts for suicide was
Derrick Cox – There’s Always A Tomorrow
By Mike Kent Derrick Cox remembers the steel being cold and hard on his lips. It smelled of carbon and tasted of oil. He was in a deep, dark hole and saw no way out. The gun in his mouth was
Finding Purpose Again – Nick Dmitruchina
By Rachael Sherman Nick Dmitruchina is a retired Marine and always carried himself with confidence and was known for doing his job well and with pride. No one knew that he used work as a coping mechanism to deal with the
Daddy – A Daughter’s Recollection of PTSD and WWII
Written by Lin Opgenorth Daddy was seventeen when he first saw war. Uncle Sam was urging young men to fight for their country, and his friends had already answered the call. Somehow, contrary to their dreams for their only son, his
