T. and C. Shaw

We wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the amazing Pheasant Hunt and Couples Retreat in New York that we were privileged to have been a part of. From the moment we got to New York, we were in a completely relaxed atmosphere. We cannot say enough of the generosity, genuine caring, and compassion from everyone involved with this event, especially Jim and Marylou. They made us feel like family from the first moment we met them.
What we feel makes this event so unique is that that our spouses were a part of this event. For Cathy and me, we both have Purple Hearts, but we enjoy doing things together and feel more comfortable when we are out and about together due to our injuries. No one knows and understands what we go through, or what our specific issues are on a daily basis but our spouses. We rely on each other and feel more comfortable knowing each other is there.
Cathy had an amazing time with the spouses, it was an instant connection with the ladies. Marylou and her friends provided an extraordinary escape within a relaxing atmosphere for all the spouses while the guys hunted. They were able to relax and talk while sharing their experiences and resources available for disabled veterans. Having the other spouses there gave each of them the opportunity to realize they are not alone in the daily challenges their veterans face. Although each veteran is unique, they have similar mindset and the same struggles. This was a special opportunity for the spouses to come together, form friendships and feel the military spouse bond, even though their soldier is retired.
The pheasant hunting was awesome! But, it was not just the hunting, it was the fellowship with my fellow veterans and the all the volunteers who gave of the time and from their heart. There is a special healing that is difficult to explain when I get in the woods to hunt. It immediately calms me being in the woods or in a field in a country atmosphere. I was very at ease which doesn’t happen too often. The volunteers were very accommodating. They were very in tune to each of our injuries. I feel bad because I was the one who held up the other Warrior’s because of my restriction to walk at a regular pace. The dog handlers were very gracious with keeping their dogs close enough to myself and other Warrior’s so we all got a chance to shoot.
It was not the shooting that was so important, it was the fellowship and friends we all made over the time we were there. The friendships we made by just hanging around the lodge or watching the dogs work will last longer than then meat we were blessed to harvest. The ultimate harvest was the friendships we made, and the connections are wives made with each other. It was truly a healing weekend for the vets and the wives also. Thank you so much for the chance and honor to be chosen to be a part of something so special.
I looked at your list of opportunities on the WWIA website. There is a pig hunt scheduled in Tennessee. I contacted the lodge and both Cathy and I have signed up to volunteer for the event. We want to give back to WWIA, to pay it forward for other vets to have the amazing, life changing experience that we both have had with the Pheasant Hunt an Couples Retreat in New York. Thank you very much