Empowering Veterans Through Programs, Services, and Advocacy

After years of trying to manage the physical and emotional effects from his time in the Marines, Sal Gonzalez no longer recognized the man staring back at him. The scale read almost 300 pounds. He was depressed and exhausted – not just physically, but mentally. His sleep was erratic. He was on edge. And his self-esteem had all but disappeared.

“We ride. We heal.” It’s a motto for warriors who participate in the Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) adaptive cycling event, Soldier Ride®. That motto became a reality for a pair of warriors during Soldier Ride Chicago.

Clarence “Wayne” Beck’s name may not be on a trophy, but in the golden era of professional golf, it carried weight among champions. Years later, that same name would leave a lasting mark on the lives of wounded veterans. 

People often celebrate major celebrations like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve with fireworks. While these can mark festive occasions, they can also be triggering for some military personnel. But these triggers are more than brightly colored explosions in the sky.

Army veteran Raquel Rojas remembers the night she was jolted awake by her daughter. “My daughter was tugging at me, yelling at me to breathe,” said Raquel, who was unaware that she’d been gasping for air while sleeping. Raquel had gone to stay with her daughter, who had grown concerned about her mother’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although Raquel was getting care for her symptoms, sleep was a constant challenge.