We are a 501c3 volunteer organization whose sole focus is bringing US military veterans together in a recreational setting. The idea to create an all-veteran team was born from our experience with breast cancer dragon boat teams. We experienced first-hand how team members supported each other - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually - as well as the health and fitness aspect of this sport. We saw a need for veterans returning home from deployment, no longer part of a functioning, ... Read More
We are a 501c3 volunteer organization whose sole focus is bringing US military veterans together in a recreational setting. The idea to create an all-veteran team was born from our experience with breast cancer dragon boat teams. We experienced first-hand how team members supported each other - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually - as well as the health and fitness aspect of this sport. We saw a need for veterans returning home from deployment, no longer part of a functioning, supportive unit, finding difficulty transitioning into civilian life. We were, and continue to be, encouraged by Veteran Service Offices toward this effort to create this program, to bring veterans together in support of each other.
All funds raised directly support race fees, travel expenses where applicable, equipment (paddles, life vests, adaptive equipment), and outreach to veterans and their families in the Western MA community. All training is provided at no cost to veterans.
As part of outreach efforts, our team of veterans connect with elder veterans who are house-bound. During the onset of COVID, this team filled CARE packages and delivered them to the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, as well as to veterans within the community that were housebound; i.e., veterans helping veterans. To bring awareness of veteran suicide, our team wear dog tags (on their life vests) with the names of those veterans who lost their personal battle, keeping their memory alive by carrying their names with them in the boat.
We have started an annual Memorial Day event to honor all veterans lost, by floating luminaries on the CT River at dusk from our dragon boat. The first year, luminaries carried the names of those veterans at the Soldiers' Home who died due to COVID; the following year, again to bring awareness of the number of veterans lost to suicide, 22 luminaries were floated on the CT River.
Our veteran team is comprised of men and women, ranging in age from late 20s to mid 70s. No veteran is denied the opportunity to participate. While many of our team members are affected by PTSD, we also strive to accommodate physical disabilities to enable individuals to paddle as part of the team.
The team participates in races held within the New England area, and strive to expand to compete nationally. We have reached out to the Boston area, to NY, and VT to raise interest developing veteran dragon boat teams with the vision of requesting, of the United States Dragon Boat Federation, consideration of approving a Veterans' Racing Division.
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