2 Vets 1 Cause

Have you ever thought about dropping everything and taking it to the open road? Leaving all your responsibilities at home for a while? Take this one step further, you leave your transportation at home as well. And no, you aren’t traveling by plane, train, or bus. You are going to hitchhike. You think that is crazy, right? But let me caution you now because the story I am going to tell you is anything but crazy. Keep reading to see what 2 Vets 1 Cause is all about

That is exactly what Todd and Chris, two high school buddies,  did back at the beginning of September. But there is a catch to their journey. They did it because they wanted to bring awareness to mental health issues and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in our nation’s Veterans. It is unsurprising that PTSD is more common in military personnel who have served in wars and conflicts than in the general population. Many veterans seek assistance from military lawyers like Stone Rose Law to help them get the compensation and benefits they are due. This additional help can be vital for securing much-needed medical help. 

I have known Todd for quite some time, in fact, when the girls were little, his wife was their cheerleading coach, and I would watch their kids after school. So when I heard what they were doing, I knew, I wanted to write about their journey on the blog and second that I would post it on Veteran’s Day. {I still can’t bring myself to write about my dad’s struggles yet with Agent Orange- but it is coming.}

I know that this post probably won’t do the trip justice because there is just so much a person can write about the journey but trying to condense a 2-hour conversation into just a few words will be hard.

They started their journey at Wrightsville Beach, NC. What better way to start and end a trip than at the beach, am I right? Both Todd and Chris are veterans. Chris is a retired Airman from the Navy, and Todd is a retired Master Sergeant from the Air Force. Although I didn’t get a chance to interview Chris, I was able to get a sense of his personality by watching their journey on Facebook.

Todd told me that when they started their journey, they had zero ideas of what was going to happen and even had some doubt about whether or not they would even make it across the country. But he knew it would be a journey but never thought it would turn out as it did.

On their journey, they were about to set up an interview at a Mental Health Clinic to not only share their cause but also to gain knowledge as well.

Their journey led them through the states of NC, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Todd set out on this journey with the mindset that he was going to bring awareness to veterans’ mental health issues, never knowing that he would receive so much more in return.

I think this one statement sums up their journey the best. Todd said, “That everybody has the same intentions, to be kind, to reach a helping hand to someone in need. All have the same soft kind heart, and that it is the media that causes the diversity and divisions.”

Both Chris and Todd said they were amazed at who picked them up; there were some that would be considered hippies or rednecks, fellow veterans, young and old, of all faiths and nationalities. And they learned that just because people look different, on the inside, they are identical.

When asked if they would do it again, the answer was, with no hesitation, absolutely. So this Veteran’s Day, I want you to step away from all the nonsense that has been happening recently and do one good deed. And also, don’t forget to thank a Veteran for all they have done to keep this country safe.

Thank You!!! Chris and Todd.

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