S. Messier

I would like to thank everyone that worked to make the fourth annual DoubleCreek Archery hunt such a wonderful experience. Dennis and Shelley have a true piece of paradise here in Tennessee. This was my first trip to TN and I never imagined it to look like this with the rolling hills and mature hard woods. I get anxiety every time I meet new people and was nervous on the plane ride, thinking about what everyone was going to be like. That anxiety was gone within the first five minutes of meeting Josh and Dennis at the airport. Josh was an amazing Associate and one thing that will stick with me from this trip is the fight he has in him. Instead of thinking about what he can’t do, he has been a true leader to his family and other vets. I have caught myself thinking that I was done. I am too old to get back in shape, too old to try new things because it is safer just to glide through life. This is not who I was prior to my injury, but I have felt that for the last 6 ½ years. That I was great at one time, but I will never be great again. Josh is living proof that you can do whatever you set your mind to and it has inspired me to continue to fight the fight of being something bigger than yourself. Be proud for what you did and flip the page and set new goals. I felt that once I was injured, I was benched. I am not a twenty-year retiree and I don’t fit in because I didn’t do twenty, I failed. After this weekend I realized that is not true. I hope to use this motivation I have found to give back and become a leader, not someone just gliding through life because I am different and am staying in my safe zone. I thank you Josh and everyone that made this possible. The hunt was an event I would recommend to anyone because it was another lesson that is bigger than hunting. The first event I went on was about me and having a successful hunt and I missed the boat on the purpose of WWIAF. I see more of the big picture now. I normally avoid other vets because I was protecting myself from the unknown. The Army kicked me away, society does not understand me, and will other vets accept me, because the Army would not after I was injured. What makes these fellow heroes any different than the army guys I slowly parted ways with because I could not understand their careers? I am just writing thoughts now, sorry if it does not make sense. I have uncovered some feelings this weekend that have been locked away. I fit in here, not because we have cultures that are close outside of service to this great nation and the injuries we sustained from it but the bonding that I haven’t done since I was living in a tent with thirty guys on the side of a mountain. It feels so refreshing. I was successful on the hunt but that is only a small part of this hunt. I just can’t thank the guides, Dennis, Shelley and everyone working behind the scenes for bringing this opportunity to me.