OCW entertains four wounded soldiers at convention
Carol Evans, center, and three other wounded warriors enjoy a tour at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, thanks to Operation Comfort Warriors. (Photo by Lucas Carter)

OCW entertains four wounded soldiers at convention

1st Lt. Ken Weathers describes a three-day visit to Baltimore funded by The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) program as a “blessing.”

Army soldiers Weathers, Sgt. Joshua Heath and husband-and-wife Mark and Carol Evans are recovering from various injuries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During The American Legion National Convention, underway in Baltimore, they learned about VA benefits, received information about careers, and enjoyed experiences like a behind-the-scenes tour at the National Aquarium and the preseason football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins.

“We enjoyed talking with them and networking with them, knowing that these programs are out there and learning the information,” Weathers said. “We are all really grateful. It was really fantastic. It was a great opportunity to learn about VA benefits from the people who were there. It’s a very unique opportunity.”

The trip to Baltimore will have an impact even after the soldiers return to Walter Reed.

“This is an opportunity to get away and not be so intimately focused on the rehab and recovery part,” Weathers said. “This helps our resiliency. The resiliency helps our ability to handle the mental aspect of things as much as the physical part. For me, attending the events, having fun and getting the knowledge and enjoying the camaraderie, and meeting new people, has been great for the mental resilience in our recovery.”

Heath, who was on bedrest for four months while he recovered from back surgery, is thankful for this weekend’s experience. “Unless you’ve been through it, you never understand what it means that people will come help out and take us to Baltimore for a weekend,” he said. “It’s amazing. Now, we have friends and information that will be with us for the rest of our lives.”

The social aspect is important to the Evanses.

“We’re both hermit crabs,” said Carol, who met Mark while they were stationed in Germany. “It does help to go out and meet new people and see different places. We had never been to Baltimore. It opens everything up.”

The weekend activities opened up Carol’s eyes to the Legion.

“The American Legion – I had no idea they did so much for veterans,” she said. “I knew about them, but I didn’t know what they did. It gives me the opportunity to go back and get my BA in my field. For the donors, they are the ones who made this possible. So, thank you. I’m grateful.”

The Baltimore trip was paid for by OCW, which is funded through donations to the program. OCW also provides equipment for adaptive sports therapy programs, clothing and toiletries for homeless veterans, and other items that assist wounded service personnel and veterans.

“The donations, which make it possible for OCW, is truly a blessing,” said Weathers, who added that he intends to join the Legion when he returns home to Tennessee. “It’s very humbling for me. It is impossible to be able to describe in words how grateful I am. It’s truly a blessing.”