Meet Ben Ward, a remarkable young man who began his philanthropic journey at just 10 years old when he donated his birthday money to support Wounded Warriors at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. What started as a modest $60 contribution has grown into more than $12,000 in donations over nine years through creative fundraising efforts, including bake sales, yard sales, and strategic partnerships with veterans' organizations.

Ben's story reveals the extraordinary impact one young person can have when driven by genuine compassion. After being inspired by Captain Theresa Reer's moving speech at a local fundraising event, Ben found his calling supporting Wounded Warriors and their families. His dedication and persistence quickly made him recognizable in the community – people would often donate without even taking his baked goods, simply because they recognized his commitment to the cause.

The ripple effects of Ben's generosity extend far beyond monetary contributions. His example inspired the creation of the Ben Ward Youth Service Award, recognizing young volunteers who demonstrate exceptional service. One of his targeted donations funded volunteer tracking software that enabled the Warrior Retreat to join the Presidential Volunteer Service Award program, creating recognition opportunities for all volunteers.

Now studying animal science at Virginia Tech with aspirations to work in zoo management and animal care, Ben continues to balance academic pursuits with his commitment to service. When asked what volunteering has taught him, his answer was simple yet profound: "It's taught me empathy."

Ready to make a difference in your community? Follow Ben's advice: "Find something that speaks to you, do it. Get out of the house, do whatever you can." Search online for volunteer opportunities near you – you'll discover countless ways to create positive change, regardless of your age or resources.

Northern Virginia's veteran community has been eagerly watching the construction of the Puller Veterans Care Center, and now we're getting closer to its highly anticipated opening. Mary Tietjen, the center's Director of Admissions, will join us to explain precisely what makes this facility so special and what veterans and their families can expect.

As Virginia's fourth state-run veterans nursing home, the Puller Center represents a significant investment in our aging veteran population. Unlike typical institutional settings, this 128-bed facility features an innovative "neighborhood" design where residents have private rooms but share intimate household spaces with just 15 other veterans. Each household includes its own kitchen, dining area, and community spaces to foster the camaraderie that many veterans miss after leaving service.

Mary walks us through the meticulous process of preparing such a facility, from the physical setup to the complex certification requirements involving the Department of Health, Medicaid, Medicare, and ultimately the VA. While these necessary steps mean the center won't open until sometime later in 2025, the wait promises to be worthwhile. The facility will initially offer short-term and long-term rehabilitation, with plans to incorporate memory care services.

What stands out most is the overwhelming community response. Mary's phone rings constantly with not only veterans and families hoping to secure a spot but also community members eager to volunteer their time and talents. From gardening to reading to musical entertainment, the surrounding community is ready to embrace these veterans and enhance their quality of life.

For those with veteran family members who might benefit from this level of care, Mary explains the waitlist process and how to connect with additional veteran resources through Virginia's robust Department of Veteran Services. With nearly 900,000 veterans in Virginia and approximately 55,000 in Prince William County alone, facilities like the Puller Center are essential to meeting growing care needs.

Do you have a veteran in your family who might benefit from the Puller Veterans Care Center? Contact Mary at (540) 680-5200 or PVCCAdmissions@dvs.virginia.gov to learn more and join the waitlist. Want to volunteer your time and talents? They're collecting information now about when the doors will open!

What if your child's education could follow your military family around the world? For service members facing 7-15 relocations during a career, finding educational stability for their children often feels impossible. Each PCS move brings the stress of uprooting kids from schools, disrupting friendships, and navigating new academic systems – sometimes with devastating effects on children's confidence and performance.

Navy veteran Erika Nance faced this challenge with her two daughters. Her older child experienced the traditional pattern of constant school transitions, while her younger daughter found an alternative path through Sora Schools, an online education platform specifically designed to provide consistency regardless of location. As Military Liaison for Sora, Nance now helps other military families discover this powerful educational option.

Unlike conventional online learning, Sora offers a vibrant, interactive community where students engage in live classes with dedicated teachers and collaborate with peers globally. The project-based curriculum encourages creativity and independent thinking while maintaining academic rigor. Nance's daughter discovered her talent for baking through a humanities project exploring how immigration influences American cuisine – an opportunity that might never have emerged in traditional schooling.

The most remarkable benefit for military families is educational continuity despite geographical changes. As Nance's daughter said, "Mom, it doesn't matter what happens or where we need to go, because I can just take Sora with me." This stability eliminates one significant stressor from military life. Students maintain relationships with the same teachers and classmates year after year, building confidence rather than repeatedly starting over. Regional meetups and educational field trips further strengthen this global community of learners.

For military families weighing educational options, Sora Schools provides a tier-based tuition grant program based on total annual income, making private education accessible across all pay grades. The school's founder, Garrett Smiley, draws on his own experience as a military child to create an environment where these unique students can thrive academically and socially despite frequent relocations.

Visit soraschools.com to learn how your military child can maintain educational stability regardless of where your service takes your family.

When Marine veteran Ryan Woodruff returned from two combat deployments to Iraq, he found himself adrift in civilian life. "It was even difficult just to strike up casual conversation," he reveals, describing the profound disconnect many veterans experience after service. Today, as CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, he's transforming lives through programs built on firsthand understanding of the military-civilian divide.

The heart of Woodruff's story isn't just his personal journey from infantryman to nonprofit leader, but how his organization approaches veteran services differently. Rather than imposing pre-packaged solutions, Clear Path designs programs by asking: "What would I want if I were in their shoes?" This veteran-centered philosophy drives everything from their weekly "Canteen" meals serving hundreds of veterans to their gold-standard service dog program.

What sets their service dog initiative apart is its meticulous approach. Each dog undergoes a two-year training journey costing $25,000-$50,000, from purpose-bred puppies raised by volunteer "canine guardians" to professional training tailored to address specific veteran needs related to PTS or traumatic brain injury. Unlike organizations with years-long waiting lists, Clear Path commits to placing dogs within 12 months or referring veterans to partner organizations, ensuring timely support.

Serving 33 counties across New York state through mobile outreach, Clear Path embodies Woodruff's conviction that "we owe it to them to welcome them home, not just thank them for service." With 200,000+ veterans leaving service yearly, his organization provides a blueprint for how communities can truly support military transitions through meaningful connection, purpose-driven programs, and recognition of each veteran's unique journey.

Want to support Clear Path's mission? Visit clearpathforveterans.com to learn how you can contribute to their work providing service dogs, culinary programs, and comprehensive support to veterans at no cost.

A profound connection exists between traumatized warriors and rescued horses. Both have experienced hardship, both carry invisible scars, and both possess remarkable resilience. This powerful relationship forms the foundation of the life-changing work happening at Lifeline Horse Rescue in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Executive Director Leila Hertzberg brings her expertise as an EGALA-certified equine specialist with military designation to create transformative experiences for veterans battling PTS, moral injury, and trauma. Through their LETS (Lifeline Equine Therapy Services) program, service members experience ground-based interactions with horses that create unique pathways to healing that traditional therapy often can't reach.

What makes this approach particularly effective is how it sidesteps direct confrontation of trauma. Veterans observe horses interacting in the pasture, projecting their own experiences onto what they witness. A horse standing alone might trigger recognition of personal isolation; fences become metaphors for boundaries. As Hertzberg explains, "We don't ask them what they feel... we say, 'What's going on out there?' So it's not pressure on them." Through these metaphorical conversations, warriors begin articulating their experiences in ways that feel safe.

The horses themselves come from challenging backgrounds - ex-racehorses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars before injury made them "worthless" to owners, former Amish working horses with broken bodies from years of hard labor. These animals intuitively connect with veterans, often singling out the warrior in a family group, sensing a kindred spirit who understands trauma and loss.

Lifeline offers these services free to veterans, active duty personnel, and their families, partnering with Walter Reed, Fort Belvoir's Soldier Recovery Unit, and other military organizations. Despite facing funding challenges, its mission remains clear: "No suicide—that's the bottom line."

Want to support this vital work? Visit lifelinehorserescue.org to donate or volunteer. If you're struggling with combat-related trauma, reach out today – healing connections await between you and a horse who understands without judgment.

What happens when a Marine survives what should have been unsurvivable? Tony Porta's story begins with a catastrophic IED blast in Iraq that claimed the lives of his fellow Marines and left him with burns over his entire body. From that moment in 2007, his journey through 143 surgeries and six years of hospital care reveals both the brutal reality of combat injuries and the extraordinary resilience of a Marine.

Tony takes us through his remarkable awakening from a coma on his mother's birthday, the angel he believes helped him escape his burning Humvee, and the painful years of reconstruction that followed. But this isn't just a story of physical recovery—it's about finding meaning, community, and purpose when life as you knew it disappears in an instant.

The conversation shines a powerful light on the crucial role of Semper Fi & America's Fund in Tony's recovery. When military support systems reached their limits, this organization stepped in to help his displaced family keep their home, secure appropriate housing near the hospital, and eventually provide a smart home that accommodates Tony's needs. Their comprehensive approach recognized that healing extends beyond the wounded warrior, encompassing caregivers and children who share in the journey.

Perhaps most moving is Tony's candid discussion of finding "home" after war. His heartbreaking experience of rejection in his hometown led to an unexpected discovery of a welcoming community that saw beyond his injuries. His story reminds us that true healing happens when wounded warriors find acceptance, purpose, and support to build a meaningful future.

Ready to make a difference in the lives of wounded warriors like Tony? Visit thefund.org to learn more about Semper Fi & America's Fund and support their vital mission.

The transformative power of community support takes center stage in this revealing conversation with your host and Diane Lunsford, the Warrior Retreat Events Coordinator. As the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary of opening its doors to wounded warriors, it shares the profound impact its work has had on over 2,700 service members and their families.

"I used to think my family would be better off without me. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Diane quotes from warriors who've experienced their five-day stays. The evolution is visible—warriors arrive with shoulders "up around their ears" from stress and tension but leave relaxed, grateful, and transformed by their experience on the 37-acre property with its two five-bedroom homes.

The conversation takes us through four major events that will sustain their mission throughout 2025: the Memorial Day 10th anniversary celebration featuring ceremonial tributes to fallen service members; the Vets for Willing Warriors Corvette show in July showcasing America's iconic sports cars; the meticulously organized Warrior Ride cycling fundraiser in September with routes for all skill levels; and the elegant annual gala in November that brings supporters together for a night of celebration and testimonials from warrior alumni.

What emerges is a story, not just about fundraising, but about the power of community gathering. The retreat's success relies on 150-200 dedicated volunteers who embody the mission of honoring those who've served. "We are not dialing for dollars," Diane emphasizes. "We're seeking organizations and individuals who understand why we do what we do and want to have that same sense of commitment and desire to be part of this long term."

Register for upcoming events or learn how you can support their mission at willingwarriors.org. Experience firsthand why this retreat has become a beacon of hope and healing for America's wounded warriors.

Ever wondered how military service shapes a career in healthcare? Join us for a captivating conversation with Dr. Matthew Reinhard, a leading figure in neuropsychology and the Director of the Complex Exposure Threat Center of Excellence at the VA in Washington, DC. Discover the personal journey that led him to champion veterans' health, inspired by his family's deep military roots. Dr. Reinhard offers an insider's look into the center's unique interdisciplinary approach, which brings together experts from a number of medical disciplines to research and tackle the pressing issues of environmental exposures affecting veterans.

We'll also address a poignant concern raised by a veteran who has fueled the Center's focused research on the health challenges of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) professionals. Through their collaboration with the University of Maryland, they're breaking new ground in understanding the biological effects of military exposures using the concept of allostatic load (the cumulative "wear and tear" on the body caused by repeated or chronic stress). Dr. Reinhard shares his insights into the complex task of measuring these impacts and highlights the center's commitment to translating clinical insights into actionable research and education. This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the intricate world of veteran health research and the dedicated efforts to enhance care for those who have served.