In February 2023, the Flags of Valor team took a nearly cross-country road trip of nearly 1,500 miles from Winchester, VA, to Houston, TX. Our purpose? To attend the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The team spent a total of 21 days at the show, during which we shared the amazing mission of Flags of Valor with more than 2,500 people!
Our unwavering mission to give veterans an opportunity to thrive in life after service by way of meaningful employment was on full display at the show through our partnership with Camp Hope and the PTSD Foundation of America.
Knowing we couldn't take our full team to Houston for 3 weeks, we worked with Camp Hope by hiring 2 recent graduates of the Camp Hope Resident Program: Kacey (a Marine Corps Veteran) and John (an Army Veteran). This experience is the first step for Kacey and John as they look to reintegrate and lead a full and fulfilling life.
"A lot of the visitors who have come by have been veterans," John said. "The camaraderie with everyone here has been incredible," he continued.
Camp Hope provides a safe haven where veterans with mental health and substance abuse issues can begin to heal. An intensive evidence-based 6-month counseling and support program includes peer mentoring with trained staff, behavior modification, recovery programs, workforce preparation and professional counseling with our collaborative partners.
Upon leaving Camp Hope, 3 full-time Transition Mentors reach out to graduates every 2 weeks for the first 6 months, and then monthly thereafter, making sure that the veterans are implementing their transition plans to successful independent living.
Camp Hope's commitment is to support every program resident with counseling, food, shelter, mental health services, supplies, and access to medical care. Over the past ten years, more than 1,650 combat veterans have taken part in the program.
If you'd like to learn more about Camp Hope or make a donation to support Veterans in need, please click here.
