By: Jackson McAfee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Heroes on the Water is a local non-profit that raises awareness for U.S. Veterans who served in the military and developed post-traumatic stress disorder during their time. The event holds kayaking, canoeing and fishing sails around local lakes.
The non-profit was originally created in 2007 in Allen, Texas, and has spread throughout other areas. The Northwest Arkansas chapter was founded in 2017 when a local Vietnam Veteran decided to go boating.
Kevin Fitzgerald said the man’s name was “Joe Cool.” He passed away a year ago but the tradition still holds strong for others. Even though Joe Cool did not talk a lot about his military career, he still found a sense of relief from his burdens when he would go and hit the waters.
“He was an army veteran,” Fitzgerald said. “He didn’t talk much about it. He didn’t like to talk about it. But he was affected by it. But this was his release. This is what helped him to get through that.”
Heroes on the Water coordinator Brian Clark took over the chapter in 2019. He served in Afghanistan from 2006-2008 and has his fair share of PTSD and depression from the events he saw. However, he has found his therapy in hosting the boating events and loves seeing people have fun with their friends and family.
“Doing this here, honestly, is more beneficial to me than that it may be to these people,” Clark said. “I mean I can’t say that for sure. But, this is my therapy. Seeing them, I mean the change in personality or change in their persona from the time they leave to the time they come back. Sitting around and being us and seeing their smiles. That’s my payment, that’s my therapy.”
According to Veterans Affairs, seven out 100 Veterans eventually suffer from PTSD during their lifetime. Most of their memories come from off the battlefield and witnessing stressful events.
With so many U.S. Veterans struggling with PTSD and/or depression, physical activity and going outside does wonders for people. Fitzgerald sees a lot of Veterans have peace with participating in the water.
“There’s so many that think they’re the only ones,” Fitzgerald said. “And these guys come out. They come looking rough and leave just smiling and there’s nothing better than that.”
The event prioritizes Veterans and families to have fun. Clark said he always wants to create a great experience for everyone involved.
“I’m all about having fun,” Clark said. “These folks, they’re going through rehab, they’re stuck in their house or wherever. My thing is, if you don’t have fun, they don’t want to come back. So we make it as fun as possible. I tell people you’re either going to laugh at me or you’re gonna laugh with me. But, you are guaranteed to laugh.”