Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Host Veterans Served by Wounded Warrior Project
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2017) – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp recently welcomed warriors and family members served by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) for a night of baseball, fireworks, and camaraderie. Gatherings like this don’t just allow wounded veterans to enjoy a night out with family members – they’re also a chance to connect with other local warriors who share their life experiences. These relationships can be instrumental in building support systems that help with recovery from the wounds of war.
“Baseball has always been one of my favorite sports to watch,” said Navy veteran Clint Haskell. “I haven’t lived in Florida very long, and I haven’t been to a game in years. Being back in the atmosphere of the ballpark was a great feeling. And I connected with some veterans I had not met before. No matter how many times you attend a Wounded Warrior Project event, you can always meet someone new who can give advice or perspective on life and its challenges.”
Isolation is one of the most significant struggles wounded warriors deal with after serving their country. In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.7 percent) talked with fellow veterans to address their mental health issues.
“One thing that surprised me about the evening was how I was able to continue growing more comfortable in a social setting, especially as one as hectic as a ballgame,” Clint said. “Those conditions used to send me over the edge, but it really opened my eyes to see how far my wife and I have come over the years. A lot that of has been because of constant exposure to these kinds of environments.”
Thanks to generous donors, WWP programs and services are offered free of charge to warriors, their caregivers, and families, and they assist with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, connecting warriors with one another and their communities, and long-term care for the most seriously wounded.
“Wounded Warrior Project has done many things to help me and my family,” Clint said. “I am married with five school-age children. During difficult periods, like my wife’s emergency surgeries, my own treatments, and moving to Florida, Wounded Warrior Project gave us guidance and support. I don’t know what we would have done without them and their staff.”
To learn more about how WWP’s programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org. To find photos from this event, click on multimedia, then images.
Contact: Mattison Brooks – Public Relations
Email: MBrooks@woundedwarriorproject.org
Phone: 904.646.6897
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org.