By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Urging veterans to continue serving even after their active duty comes to an end, Rick Cantwell, Chairman of the Patriot Military Family Foundation addressed the assemblage of an estimated 40 Blowing Rock community members, including a number of veterans from all service branches, at the American Legion Building on Nov. 11.
American Legion Post 256 Commander Albert Yount opened the proceedings a little after 11 a.m., introducing St. Mary of the Hills choir member Margaret Holder to sing the National Anthem.
Yount then brought recently re-elected Mayor Charlie Sellers to the podium for some welcoming remarks. In addition to praising those assembled for their attendance in honoring veterans, Sellers also took the opportunity to address a concern.
“I hope we can get past the divisiveness that led up to this week’s election,” said Sellers. “We are one Blowing Rock.”
Wayne Mihelich, Vice Commander of North Carolina’s American Legion organization, stressed the importance of American Legion membership for those leaving active military duty, including a role for spouses in the American Legion Auxiliary.
Local resident George Wilcox was responsible for bringing this year’s keynote speaker to Blowing Rock and introduced Richard Cantwell, Chairman of the Patriot Military Family Foundation that he founded with retired Major General Chuck Swannock, a previous keynote speaker honoring veterans in Blowing Rock.
Cantwell praised the many organizations that serve the needs of military veterans, suggesting that his organization fills what he described as a “gap” in the treatment of post-traumatic syndrome suffered by many returning veterans as they try and re-engage their lives in society.
One of the Patriot Military Family Foundation’s initiative is matching veterans with specially trained service dogs, which provide a measure of both companionship and protection. He described how even veterans who were skeptical of the benefit of a service dog became believers.
Cantwell said the Foundation now has some eight breeders to supply an ongoing supply of dogs, but not just any dog will do. Working with other agencies, the Foundation provides dogs that specifically match the needs of an individual veteran.
The Foundation also works closely with a medical professional in Chicago who has developed a highly successful protocol for treating PTSD patients.
“We were at first dubious, but I sent the fellow 20 PTSD veterans and he had a 100 percent success rate,” said Cantwell.
In closing, Cantwell urged the audience members to help identify the needs of veterans in the community and work with the American Legion and his foundation to find solutions.
