Army combat veteran Chris Marvin has found his passion and purpose in America’s national parks. He shares how national parks benefit veterans in this week’s episode of Tango Alpha Lima.
Army veteran Chris Marvin is passing his love of national parks on to his family and others through his outreach. Marvin, a fourth-generation Army combat veteran, served from 2001 to 2009 as a U.S. Army officer and Black Hawk helicopter pilot.
“If you are looking for purpose or healing or connection, national parks offer all of those,” said the combat-wounded veteran of the war in Afghanistan. “It’s going to be different for each person. The great part about national parks is the access. You can experience these public parks, which we all own, that can be healing or refreshing for a veteran.”
In 2020, Marvin established the Park-to-Park Tour project to help share national parks with his children as a way to demonstrate the purpose and legacy of his own military service. He believes strongly that patriotism is exhibited through the enjoyment and protection of national parks and public lands.
The Park-to-Park Tour has taken Marvin and his family to more than half of the nation’s national parks and developed his expertise on the relationship veterans can have with “America’s best idea.”
“I’ve turned it into a celebration of patriotism,” said Marvin, who played American Legion Baseball for Post 55 in Illinois. “All veterans in some way, shape or form feel they are patriotic. And we all love the country. And for me, that means loving the national parks.”
Amid potential cuts to national parks, Marvin says, “Saving our national parks is a form of patriotism and love for this country.”
Marvin answers these and other rapid-fire questions (check out the episode for more details):
• Favorite national park: Olympic National Park.
• Favorite national park snack: a secret trail mix.
• Most underrated park: Great Basin.
• Tent, hammock, cabin or other: In the camper van with his daughters.
• Wildest wildlife encounter: You won’t believe his answer. Not grizzly bears, not rattlesnakes.
Also, co-hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr chat about:
• The Air Force warning about a foreign recruitment scheme.
• The 140th anniversary of a popular drink this week.
You can also check out the more than 300 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.
- Tango Alpha Lima