Veterans working to bring facility to Central Ohio to stem veteran suicides
NEWARK, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — A pair of veterans, who climbed out of the depression of post-traumatic stress, are working to bring a facility to Central Ohio in hopes of slowing the rate of veteran suicides. The two men are working to bring the Save-A-Warrior program to the hills of Licking County.
The program is a five-day retreat for veterans to help get the skills and techniques to cope with post-traumatic stress. The SAW program happens in Malibu, California, but Adam Carr and Patrick Atkinson hope to turn a Licking County property into a warrior village to help veterans on this side of the country.
Carr and Atkinson are working to renovate a lodge, which used to be in the Longaberger family, into the facility, where veterans will get what they call "war detox."
Both men said they suffered from problems after their service. Atkinson served in Afghanistan and Iraq and struggled with alcohol and drugs when he returned home.
"Six years ago I got sober on Memorial Day," he said. "I woke up in my front yard after going on a vicious bender."
Atkinson said he realized he was dishonoring the sacrifice of his fallen comrades by failing to engage in society. He said the key to reengaging veterans is to get them involved in service.
A link to the non-profit program can be found here.
