WELLSville Veterans Project: A Place for Healing

Wellsville, NY—Steve came from New Jersey, Toby’s from Indiana and Nick joined them from Detroit. Mike Blake was there for a while but he’s with his family right now. They share a small, green house in Wellsville with photos of friends killed in Iraq and nightmare-memories of a place where the flags on their arms were taken as targets. They live with injuries and problems but also with a sense of compassion so large that it could fill any house, pour into any conversation.

Like you, they’ve seen the stickers – “support our troops” – but they are starting where the yellow ribbons end because they’ve learned that the promises of support are surrounded by gaps and hurdles. They're involved in a project that will push those words into action and it’s right here in Wellsville.

So how would a guy from Muncie, Indiana or a suburb of Detroit end up in Wellsville? It’s because Kristin Van Huysen had this idea. Her homes in Wellsville were empty and needed work but they could house Iraq era veterans and lead the way for similar projects throughout the country, places where Iraq-vets could heal. Read the full article here.

Find your Congressional representatives and tell them to support HR 508, a bill which, among other provisions, requires that the US fully fund the health care needs for vets.

If you have things to donate to the project, or would like more information, email wellsvillevetsproject@yahoo.com or call 206-851-6448.