This was the third year that American Legion Post 79 has supported the Warrior Expeditions Great American Trail 3,800-mile bicycle ride that started on May 12 in Washington, D.C., and was successfully completed by five combat veterans and retirees in August. The first three arrived in North Bend on July 19 and reached La Push on July 23. The fifth and last biker arrived in North Bend on Aug. 22. This completed Post 79’s support of the 2023 Warrior Expeditions Great American Trail riders. For several years Post 79 supported warrior hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, with only two completing the trail in 2022. Because of the low completion rate there was no PCT Hike this year. Our support including meeting and greeting the warriors and providing dinner, overnight accommodations and breakfast the following morning before taking them to the connecting trail in Preston for their final push to La Push on the Pacific.
Since 2001, over 3 million veterans have returned home from war, but many have never transitioned from their experiences. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that up to 20% of post 9/11 veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Recognizing the therapeutic value of long-distance outdoor expeditions, Warrior Expeditions created the Warrior Hike, Warrior Bike and Warrior Paddle programs to help veterans transition from their wartime experiences. Interaction with community supporters like our post supporters facilitates a veteran’s reintegration into society, restores their faith in humanity and builds a network of lifelong friendships and relationships.
Veterans who participated in the 2023 Warrior Bike included Stephanie Buffett of Riner, Va. (United States Air Force, deployed to Afghanistan), Timothy Davis of Lake Zurich, Ill. (United States Air Force, deployed to Afghanistan), Brittany Greene of Tacoma, Wash. (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan), Aaron Ledbetter of Cottage Grove, Ore. (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan), and Jared Thomas of Huntington, W.Va. (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan).
Learn more about Warrior Expeditions at their website: https://warriorexpeditions.org
See photos of the 2023 GAT: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vW7pirQFbNZzQKcj6
