Page 32 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

PEOPL honoring the sacrifices
SPARTAN WEEKEND
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Spartan Alliance
The Spartan Alliance, a volunteer group that seeks to prevent suicide in veterans, will be hosting the Spartan Weekend on October 12- 15. The event will take place at Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville and will host more than 50 of the nation’s severely wounded veterans
and their caregivers as a way to honor the
sacrifices of these amazing men and women. The weekend will provide an opportunity
for veterans and caregivers to take a break and enjoy all that Scarlet Pearl has to offer, including a reception dinner, bicycle ride,
and formal gala.
The team at Scarlet Pearl is no stranger
to giving back, but this cause hits close to home with so many local veterans residing
on the Gulf Coast. Since 1932, VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System has
been improving the health of over 50,000 veterans in the area. The organization
also provides support to readjustment counseling centers
along the Gulf Coast.
“This is a veteran community
and we want the community to get behind this event,” said Larry Bothner of the Spartan Alliance. “It’s near and dear
to me as a veteran. I do have PTSD, and I love
helping my brothers
and sisters. I’ve been volunteering for the past ten years so it’s important to me to get these
guys together, just to see the brotherhood and the sisterhood we have as veterans.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 20 veterans commit suicide in the United States each day, and groups such as the Spartan Alliance are working to reduce that number.
With a rise in awareness and support for former service members, the suicide rate in veterans has been reduced from 22 suicides committed per day in 2012.
Spartan Weekend speakers will include Boone Cutler, the first nationally recognized radio talk show personality who is also a combat veteran; Anthony Anderson, founder of Guardian of Valor who was recently named “The Most Prominent Stolen Valor Investigator in the Country” by
CBS This Morning; and Margie Miller, Gold Star Mother and Founder of Project Miller. Musical entertainment will be provided by Three Beards, a Texas rock band whose lead vocalist and songwriter is a former paratrooper, flight medic and combat veteran.
Tickets to the gala on October 14 are $45 per person or $475 for a table of 10 and can be purchased online at Ticketleap.com.
Spartan Alliance
843.327.6005 • www.spartanweekend.org
for veterans
32 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2017
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