PLATOON 22’S RALLY IN THE VALLEY on OCTOBER 21, 2017,AT THE
FREDERICK FAIRGROUNDS, IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND.
OPERATION ENGAGE AMERICA (OEA) was founded by Jean and Howard Somers, following the devastating loss of their son, Daniel. Challenged by Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Gulf War Syndrome, and other multi-system health issues, Daniel’s transition to civilian life ended in June 2013, when he took his life. OEA’S co-founders Lisa and Jeff Naslund share this story of loss, with the death of their son, Army Sgt. Dillon Naslund, to suicide, in December 2012. OEA’S mission is to offer support, awareness, education and resources to veterans and others living with PTS and TBI, and to their families and communities. One way OEA is achieving this mission is by connecting Veterans and their families with local and national resources and support by initiating and participating in Resource Fairs, symposiums, and Veteran-focused events. (To learn more about OEA, please visit our website at WWW.OPERATIONENGAGEAMERICA.ORG.)
Last year, with the help of the FREDERICK VETERANS SUPPORT NETWORK, we held Maryland’s first OEA-MD VETERAN RESOURCE FAIR in Frederick. We saw first-hand the power of vibrant and impassioned local and national resource providers committed to helping our Veterans, First Responders, their families and community. To those of you who were there, we Thank You!
For 2017, OEA-MD is pleased to partner with and work along-side PLATOON 22 as they prepare for their 2ND RALLY IN THE VALLEY (RITV) event. PLATOON 22’S mission is to dramatically reduce the number of Veteran suicides by funding research on effective diagnosis and treatment of PTSD, and to provide funding to programs centered and focused on Veteran healthcare. Thru events like RALLY IN THE VALLEY, and the “HEALING INVISIBLE WOUNDS” GOLF TOURNAMENT, PLATOON 22 raises awareness and funding to achieve their mission. OEA-MD will support these efforts by helping to identify and encourage unique and inspirational veteran resources like yours, to be part of RALLY IN THE VALLEY, 2017.
Rally in the Valley IS A ONE-DAY EVENT TO SUPPORT THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, AND TO HONOR THOSE LOST AS PART OF THE 22 STATISTIC. As you may know, PLATOON 22’S 1ST RALLY IN THE VALLEY was a huge success- inspiring more than 1,500 attendees, including hundreds of veterans and their families, to brave the downpours of the day, and spend it with others in celebration, music, and support of our Veterans and military. PLEASE VISIT THE RITV WEBSITE AT HTTP://22RALLYINTHEVALLEY.COM/# and the PLATOON 22 WEBSITE AT HTTP://PLATOON22.ORG/ to learn more.