The Long Road Home ProjectThe Veterans Caucus of the AAPA with the AAPA are partnering with this movement to assist in veterans transitions to civilian life. Look at their website and map of progress and let us know what you can do/need to help in the progress of this movement.
From: Leocadia Conlon
To: Eusebio Flores III , james.lindsay.miller@us.army.mil“>james.lindsay.miller@us.army.mil , mvaldez , Frank Piper
Subject: Veterans Initiative – request for help
Sent: May 04 ’12 13:34
Dear Colleauges,
As you know we are working on a Veteran’s Campaign. I wanted to alert you to an opportunity we have to partner with a grassroots organization as part of our initiative moving forward and ask for any help or guidance you may have.
We have recently partnered with a group called the “Long Road Home Project”. I have been put in contact with the founder: a gentleman named Casey Miller through a friend of mine who works with soldiers with PTSD in Washington State. She is a West Point Grad, now out of the military, but her husband is still on active duty in Army Special Forces. That is all to say they are good people who understand the issues. There is more information about this project below – but basically Casey has convened a group of veterans who will cycle across the country, stopping along the way to engage other veterans. His primary purpose is to raise awareness. They will make their journey into a documentary to highlight the daily challenges that veterans deal with. We are hoping to gather PAs at different stops along their journey to welcome the cyclist, assist them if needed, and to bring PAs to the veterans to highlight the need of this community. Also, by partnering with them we will try to raise some funds to support some activities that we may plan for training PAs and building their capacity to reach out to military families and veterans in their communities. So the purpose of our partnership is to raise more awareness among PAs, and to work together with them to raise funds to support other activities we would like to plan and work with you on in the near future.
The reason that I am contacting you is that they will be stopping in various places throughout the country and we would like to gather PAs and community members to offer a welcoming celebration for them as they come through. Myself and our communication team would work with you, but leave the creative ideas up to you of what can be done to bring PAs out to welcome them, offer any assistance they may need, offer them housing if that is available (there are 7 riders), and engage other members of the community. We will be contacting state chapters as well, but we wanted to specifically reach out to our Veterans and Military groups. Below is a list of a few things already being planned because of connections other organizations may have already had; as well as places where there is a need because nothing has yet been planned.
- 1.Seattle, Washington, the groups send off on July 18th. We have already reached out to the Washington Chapter, and are working with a local organization whose board president is aBut no definite activities have yet been planned.
- 2.Kansas City, Mo, ETA 4 SEPT – no groups contacted or activities planned.
- 3.St. Louis, MO – ETA 9 SEPT – no groups contacted or activities planned.
- 4.Colombia, MO – ETA 7 SEPT – no groups contacted or activities planned.
- 5.Knoxville, TN – ETA 25 Sept – working with Ken Harbert to planWelcome partnerships.
- 6.Greenville, NC – ETA 6 OCT – no groups contacted or activities planned.
- 7.Alexandria, VA – ETA 14 OCT – AAPA working on a welcoming reception. Will reach out to other PA groups. In Alexandria we will gather local cyclist to complete the last leg of the ride with them into DC where we are working with local orgs. to give them the final
Please read about the project below (after my signature block) and let us know if you have any thoughts about activities than can be planned at any of the places above. Also you can visit their website for a full list of their route to see if there is a location near you where you would like to see if there was something that can be done there.
Please contact me via email or at the number below with any questions.
Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Leocadia
J. Leocadia Conlon, PA-C, MPH
Senior Fellow, Science and Public Health
American Academy of Physician Assistants
2318 Mill Road Suite 1300, Alexandria, VA 22314
P 571-319-4405
F 571-319-4406
Elconlon@aapa.org
www.aapa.org
The Long Road Home Project
Over the past decade the US has been involved in 10 military operations. Today, record numbers of troops are coming home. Only now, they face a new battle–a personal one–as these heroes transition to civilian life on the home front.
To help veterans with their transitions home, and draw attention to a national concern, Casey Miller, a civilian, has founded the Long Road Home Project.
This summer, five vets will bicycle across the nation in an effort to heal their wounds and inspire others to do the same. The 4200 mile journey begins on July 15 in Aberdeen, Washington (near Tacoma) and will conclude in Washington D.C. about 90 days later. The route was chosen for its natural beauty, easy access to military bases, and cooler summer weather. Followed by a small film crew, the intrepid group of vets (who include men and women ages 27 to 59, paralyzed hand cyclists, victims of military sexual assault, and those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder) will meet with hundreds of other vets along the way, asking the question, “What can we do as a nation to serve our veterans as they come home?” Their work will later be turned into a documentary.
While this is its first ride, the Long Road Home Project aims to make this an annual event with the purpose of raising funds for non-profits that help our returning heroes.
Team Red, White, and Blue (www.teamrwb.org), the official sponsor of the Long Road Home Project, has pledged $25,000 to the ride. Their mission is to help returning vets transition to civilian life through personal connectivity between veterans and their community, a galvanization of esprit de corps and team membership, and a commitment to physical fitness.
Casey Miller, a San Francisco resident and graduate from Harvard, is no stranger to the healing power of exercise. Last year, after he found himself jobless, heartbroken, and nearly homeless, he bought a bicycle. Then rode it. Alone. Across the United States. Along the way, he asked everyday people how they found meaning in their lives, considering back then he had very little in his own.
After 22 flat tires, 3200 miles, and 415 interviews, Casey has written a book. Six and a Half, as it is aptly titled, details his trek across our nation and the 6.5 characteristics that all meaningful lives have in common.
As a result of his experience, Casey has founded the Long Road Home Project.
“The power of a bicycle changed my life,” he says. “And now I want to share that power with those who need it now more than ever–our nation’s heroes.”
For more information or to get involved, please go to www.longroadhomeproject.com
