On the recordApril 22, 2015
Mr. Speaker, 13 men, 911 miles, and 1 week to make a difference. A group of brave warriors known as the Shepherd's Men set out on a journey that will take them from the Freedom Tower in New York City to the Shepherd's Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Every day, servicemen and -women from across our country return from the fields of combat only to fight another battle at home. While this battle may not include heavy artillery or enemy combatants, it is just as devastating. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries are disorders that take years--and sometimes a lifetime--to heal. These enemies invade the mind and cause unspeakable pain for those suffering and for their families. For this reason, 13 brave men, whose mission is to raise awareness and funding for those with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, have accepted the arduous task of running from the Big Apple to the Peach State. With each step forward, the Shepherd's Men are one step closer to reaching their goal of raising $250,000 for the Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative, a comprehensive rehabilitation program that provides assistance and support for servicemen and -women who have sustained mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the wounds may have been inflicted years ago, the scars still remain, and that is why the Shepherd's Men run 911 miles with 22-pound packs strapped to their chests.…





