Public Lands are Vital to Veteran Health
The Monongahela National Forest, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, the New River Gorge National River, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, our national wildlife refuges, and our state parks — these special places are the foundation of West Virginia’s outdoor culture and economy. They support thousands of jobs and contribute millions in state income taxes.
Above all, they are part of us. They are our shared identity. They are what makes West Virginia Wild & Wonderful.
New River Gorge National River, National Park Service
It is in these special places that we find the greatest opportunity to support the therapeutic treatment and recovery of American Veterans through outdoor recreation. That is why WV Rivers, along with 34 other Choose Clean Water Coalition members, urged members of Congress to support the Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act (S. 1263/H.R. 2435).
We commend West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito for co-sponsoring this legislation, which would “require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an interagency task force on the use of public lands to provide medical treatment and therapy to veterans through outdoor recreation.”
This legislation provides meaningful, real solutions for veterans struggling with mental health issues. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, between 11-20% of veterans who served during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The positive effects of outdoor recreation as a therapeutic solution is already observed at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Martinsburg, WV. Just last month, WV Rivers spoke with several veterans about this legislation and how the Martinsburg VA Medical Center does everything it can to help the recovery and treatment process for veterans.
“When I first got out of the military nothing helped me more than being in the outdoors no medicine no doctors nothing could replace what the outdoors could do for me,” Scott Rheam said, who works for the center’s grounds department.
“Getting out and being active make me feel a part of something instead of isolating which most veterans do I enjoy sports and here I am years later providing that for veterans as well,” Michael Clark said, a recreation assistant.
It’s critical that we protect our public lands so that they can continue to be used and enjoyed by all citizens, especially our veterans. You can learn more about WV Rivers’ efforts to protect and enhance public lands across the Mountain State here. If you’d like to stay up to date on the latest public lands news and actions you can take to defend our wild public lands and waters sign up for our e-news.
Tanner Haid is the Eastern Panhandle Field Coordinate for West Virginia Rivers Coalition and West Virginia State Lead for the Choose Clean Water Coalition.