Aug. 9 Veterans Support Day to benefit ECU outreach program

Published Aug 07, 2014 by
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ECU's Operation Reentry Program received a $500 gift from the Fleet Reserve Association Branch #301. Pictured left to right are Anthony Bishop, president of the Greenville FRA chapter, Patrice Frede, director of development for the College of Allied Health Sciences and ORNC and Jim Menke, military research liaison and project manager for Operation Re-entry North Carolina. (Contributed photo)

ECU’s Operation Reentry Program received a $500 gift from the Fleet Reserve Association Branch #301. Pictured left to right are Anthony Bishop, president of the Greenville FRA chapter, Patrice Frede, director of development for the College of Allied Health Sciences and ORNC and Jim Menke, military research liaison and project manager for Operation Re-entry North Carolina.  A benefit this weekend will also help support Operation Reentry. (Contributed photo)

 

The third annual Veterans Support Day and Bike Wash Saturday, Aug. 9 will benefit East Carolina University’s Operation Reentry NC, a university-wide initiative to address the rehabilitation and re-entry challenges for military personnel, veterans and their families.

Open to the public, the event runs from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Hometown Harley Davidson, 2300 Elaine’s Way in Winterville. Active and retired military personnel are urged to attend. Representatives from ECU will discuss Operation Reentry and other veterans programs available in eastern North Carolina.

Operation Reentry supports the veteran population who face numerous challenges in re-entering society following deployment. Some wounded warriors face physical disabilities resulting from blast injury, some face invisible wounds from traumatic stress. Most all face difficult post-deployment adjustment back to family and community life as well as in the workplace.

The Operation Reentry program helps them battle issues such as suicide, homelessness, substance abuse and unemployment by providing resilience and re-entry interventions. The ORNC mobile unit coordinates with the Navigate Counseling Clinic in the College of Allied Health Sciences to bring professional counseling services and other resources to veterans in rural and underserved areas.

Veterans Support Day is hosted by the Veterans Motorcycle Club and the American Legion Riders, with the support of Hometown Harley Davidson. Other participating organizations include the Pitt County Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans, Fleet Reserve Association, Marine Corps League and the Department of Veteran Affairs.